State of emergency declared in western Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz – A state of emergency (SoE) of natural origin has been declared in Atyrau region, western Kazakhstan, the regional authorities confirmed.

According to officials, the akim of Kurmangazy district signed the decision back on July 31, but it only became publicly known now. The emergency was triggered by worsening hydrological conditions, including the shallowing of the Kigach and Sharan rivers, their canals, and the Caspian Sea’s coastal areas.

“The drop in water levels negatively affects fish spawning and migration, including valuable species, complicates navigation for border and law enforcement vessels as well as fishing boats. Every year, conditions for commercial fishing worsen. Numerous complaints from fishing enterprises have already been received,” the Atyrau akimat said.

Other reported problems include:

• lack of water supply to agricultural lands and pastures through canals;
• negative impacts on farming and livestock due to dry canals.

An operational headquarters has been set up under the district deputy akim to coordinate emergency response. Authorities are preparing plans and budget estimates to address the crisis. Dredging work is planned on the fish migration canals of the Kigach and Sharan rivers, as well as the Zharkosin and Ganyushkin canals, to restore navigation and ensure adequate depths for spawning.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev previously warned in his State of the Nation Address that the declining Caspian Sea level is a growing concern. Without urgent measures, he said, “the situation may worsen, leading to a large-scale environmental disaster.”