Third wave of flooding in Petropavlovsk: what is happening now

Tengrinews.kz – The third wave of flooding is approaching Petropavlovsk. According to official data, its peak is expected between April 28 and 30, but the water has already reached the city.

This week, the flood situation was addressed by the Akim (Governor) of the North Kazakhstan Region. He noted that, for the first time, a third wave of flooding has been observed at the Sergeyevka Reservoir, which formed between April 13 and 20 and reached the overflow level of 262 centimeters.

For comparison, during the floods of 2017 and 2024, the overflow levels at the Sergievka Reservoir were 338 cm and 425 cm, respectively. Currently, the water level at the reservoir is decreasing, standing at 192 cm. This water is now moving toward Petropavlovsk and Kyzylzhar District.

"According to our experts' calculations, the peak of the third wave is expected between April 28 and 30," the regional Akim stated earlier.

He explained that the third wave was triggered by the rising levels of the Zhabay and Koluton rivers in Akmola Region.

Official sources report that large-scale efforts were carried out this year to prevent the negative consequences of flooding.

“A total of 94.5 million tenge was allocated for blasting operations at 50 sites in Petropavlovsk and seven districts of the region — twice as much as last year. For the first time, work was carried out to build a bypass canal at the Petropavlovsk hydro-junction and near the village of Novonikolskoe, as well as to rechannel the Esil River. The threat of flooding has been reduced in 60 settlements, and over 80 kilometers of protective dams and embankments have been reinforced,” said regional Akim Gauez Nurmukhambetov during a recent meeting.

It is already clear that despite the measures taken, it has not been possible to completely prevent flooding in the region. Due to the rising water level in the Esil River (on April 24 alone, the water level rose by 29 centimeters, reaching 1,119 cm, with the danger level set at 1,130 cm), the river has overflowed into its floodplain.

Currently in Petropavlovsk, water has flooded garden plots in the Zarechny and river port areas, as well as dacha settlements near the 131st kilometer and behind the city water utility. There are no residents in these areas — they have all been evacuated. Emergency posts have been set up there by the Department of Emergency Situations (DES) and police.

Floodwaters have overflowed roads leading to the village of Zarechny, making traffic difficult. Emergency responders have organized regular transportation for residents using high-clearance off-road vehicles.

Photo Tengrinews.kz

According to the North Kazakhstan Region DES, flood protection work is ongoing in Zarechny village, Petropavlovsk.

"Personnel from Emergency Ministry units, together with DES staff, are preparing and placing sandbags filled with inert materials at potentially dangerous areas," the agency reported.

As previously stated by the regional akim, special attention is being paid to the Podgora and Kozhevenny neighborhoods. The situation is also being monitored in the villages of Teplichnoye and Pribrezhnoye in the Kyzylzhar District.

In Kyzylzhar District, two road overflows have already occurred — including at the entrance to Pribrezhnoye village, located near Petropavlovsk. As a result, Pribrezhnoye has effectively become an island, surrounded by water.

“Traffic on the regional road leading to the village of Pribrezhnoye in the Kyzylzhar District of North Kazakhstan Region has been temporarily suspended due to the overflow of floodwaters. To ensure access to the settlement, Emergency Ministry rescuers deployed special high-clearance off-road vehicles. Thanks to this, residents can travel safely in both directions,” the North Kazakhstan Region Department of Emergency Situations (DES) reported.

The DES assured that there is currently no threat of residential buildings being flooded.

In the village of Teplichnoye (a suburb of Petropavlovsk), where there is also a flood risk, reinforcement of the dam is currently ongoing.

This week, the regional akim proposed offering alternative land plots to dacha owners whose properties are located in the floodplain of the Ishim River, where flooding occurs annually during the spring melt. These residents would be offered plots with existing infrastructure, with 10,000 new plots under consideration.

According to the akimat, there are around 11,000 dacha plots located in the Ishim floodplain, with 7,500 of them in especially vulnerable zones. In total, 28,000 dachas are registered in Petropavlovsk.

“We have two sites with infrastructure ready to accommodate 10,000 dacha plots. We can fully provide people with new land outside the flood risk zones,” the regional akim emphasized, noting that a site inspection is planned in the near future.

However, the proposal received mixed reactions from Petropavlovsk residents. Many are reluctant to part with their beloved dachas, into which they have invested significant time, effort, and money, and are hesitant to start over from scratch.