Syrdarya River floods farms in southern Kazakhstan

The Syrdarya River has flooded farmlands and pastures in South Kazakhstan Oblast, Tengrinews reports citing the Emergencies Department of South Kazakhstan Oblast. The water has spilled from the banks near Kozhatogai village because the water freeze up at the flood-gate of Koksarai water compensating reservoir. 900 cubic meters of water per second are being discharged into the Syrdarya River from Shardarin reservoir. The local authorities have already taken steps to remedy the situation. Emergency response teams have arrived to the village. More than 300 local residents have been helping to reinforce the local dam with 12 thousand sandbags. A special commission made a fly over the Syrdarya bed on a helicopter to identify the most suitable locations to place charges in. The explosions are need to break the ice formations and restore the normal water flow in case the situation will deteriorate and more villages will be in danger of flooding. The area of freezing is fairly large. The Syrdarya River froze up from the main unit regulating the flow from Koksarai compensation reservoir all the way to Kozhatogai village and further to the border of Kyzylorda Oblast.