Akmola Oblast flooded by melt waters in Kazakhstan

Meltwater has flooded 330 houses in Atbasar town in Akmola Oblast in central Kazakhstan, Tengrinews reports citing the press office of the Department of Emergency Situations.

256 people were evacuated and accommodated in local schools. 5 lookout posts were set up in the flooded area.

“Several explosions were made to break ice clogging were made in the riverbed and the water level has started going down, because  the melt water started flowing through the pipe culverts,” the press office reported.

Atbasar is not the only place where melt fater caused a massive flooding. In Astrakhan district of Akmola Oblast two houses were flooded by melt water and 10 people were evacuated. In Tselinograd district 46 houses were flooded and 96 people were evacuated.

In Shortandy district, rescue teams reported that there was a high risk of washout of pipes in bybass channels of the local dam. “The dam has been restored and the water level in the lake held by the dam has dropped by 40 cm. 59 people were evacuated,” the press office said.

Residents of Bulandyn district are suffering from flooding of 11 private houses and one apartment building. In Sandyktau district melt waters blocked the main road to the villages and thretened several houses.

Neighbouring Karaganda Oblast was reported to be suffering from flooding too. Nearly 200 houses of Kokpekty village were flooded after the dike blocking the Kokpeky River burst at night on March 31 releasing a 1.8 meter wave. 5 people were reported dead.