Flood threat eases in northern Kazakhstan, but road flooding remains possible

Tengrinews.kz — The flood threat in the North Kazakhstan Region has subsided. According to hydrologists, the situation in the region is currently stable, reports Channel Seven.

The Sergeyevskoye Reservoir, one of the key factors in the region’s water security, is now 96 percent full. At the same time last year, the water level there was about one meter above the critical mark, the report says.

In recent days, the weather in the region has become significantly warmer, and more than half of the snow cover has melted. However, the ice on rivers and lakes has not completely disappeared yet. That is why specialists are conducting aerial visual monitoring in potentially dangerous areas, while emergency services remain on high alert.

“According to the main hydrological forecast, the expected inflow from the Sergeyevskoye Reservoir is projected to reach up to 2.6 billion cubic meters, which is 26 percent lower than last year’s figures. Snowmelt is currently intensive, and all our observation points show a decrease in snow depth and water reserves in the snow. As a result, road overtopping and localized flooding are possible,” said Dauren Kosshygulov, head of a department at the Kazhydromet branch.

According to the TV channel, emergency response headquarters have been set up in several districts of Petropavl. Overall, more than 900,000 cubic meters of snow have already been removed from populated areas.

Earlier, the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that ice was being blasted on water bodies in North Kazakhstan to prevent flooding. This involved the Karasu River in the Aiyrtau District near the village of Zhaksy-Zhangystau. Blasting operations were also carried out near the village of Imantau on Lake Imantau over a total area of 900 square meters.