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Almost 16,000 Evacuated As Floods Rage Across Kazakhstan

A truck drives through a flooded street in the city of Aqtobe. Officials said the massive<strong>&nbsp;</strong>floods&nbsp;were triggered by an abrupt period of warm weather that led to a huge snowmelt.
1/11 A truck drives through a flooded street in the city of Aqtobe. Officials said the massive floods were triggered by an abrupt period of warm weather that led to a huge snowmelt.
A state of emergency has been declared in parts of Kazakhstan after large-scale flooding forced the evacuation of nearly 16,000 people. The floods were caused by abrupt warm weather that led to a mass snowmelt.
Military personnel make sandbags in western Kazakhstan to help contain floodwaters. Kazakh Deputy Emergency Minister Bauyrzhan Syzdyqov said on April 2 that almost 16,000 people, including more than 6,000 children, have been evacuated across the nation.
2/11 Military personnel make sandbags in western Kazakhstan to help contain floodwaters. Kazakh Deputy Emergency Minister Bauyrzhan Syzdyqov said on April 2 that almost 16,000 people, including more than 6,000 children, have been evacuated across the nation.
A state of emergency has been declared in parts of Kazakhstan after large-scale flooding forced the evacuation of nearly 16,000 people. The floods were caused by abrupt warm weather that led to a mass snowmelt.
Military personnel and more than 400 pieces of equipment are participating in measures to contain the floodwaters.<br /> <br /> On April 1, President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev officially reprimanded regional governors and the cabinet for &quot;dealing poorly&quot; with the situation and called on the Central Asian nation&#39;s businesspeople to contribute to the rescue efforts.&nbsp;
3/11 Military personnel and more than 400 pieces of equipment are participating in measures to contain the floodwaters.

On April 1, President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev officially reprimanded regional governors and the cabinet for "dealing poorly" with the situation and called on the Central Asian nation's businesspeople to contribute to the rescue efforts. 
A state of emergency has been declared in parts of Kazakhstan after large-scale flooding forced the evacuation of nearly 16,000 people. The floods were caused by abrupt warm weather that led to a mass snowmelt.
A villager captured this photo in&nbsp;Bersiev in the Oiyl district of Kazakhstan&#39;s Aqtobe region, where many homes were flooded.<br /> <br /> In the spring, settlements in Kazakhstan&#39;s eastern, western, and central regions are inundated almost annually as the snow melts.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;
4/11 A villager captured this photo in Bersiev in the Oiyl district of Kazakhstan's Aqtobe region, where many homes were flooded.

In the spring, settlements in Kazakhstan's eastern, western, and central regions are inundated almost annually as the snow melts.

 
A state of emergency has been declared in parts of Kazakhstan after large-scale flooding forced the evacuation of nearly 16,000 people. The floods were caused by abrupt warm weather that led to a mass snowmelt.
A villager clears muck near his home in Koyandy, a village some 20 kilometers northeast of the nation&#39;s capital, Astana.<br /> <br /> Residents of <a href="https://dcv71e70z9zal.cloudfront.net/a/32880729.html" target="_blank">Koyandy</a> took to the streets and barricaded the roads, furious at the authorities&#39; inability to prepare for the seasonal floods.&nbsp;
5/11 A villager clears muck near his home in Koyandy, a village some 20 kilometers northeast of the nation's capital, Astana.

Residents of Koyandy took to the streets and barricaded the roads, furious at the authorities' inability to prepare for the seasonal floods. 
A state of emergency has been declared in parts of Kazakhstan after large-scale flooding forced the evacuation of nearly 16,000 people. The floods were caused by abrupt warm weather that led to a mass snowmelt.
A woman struggles to make her way in Koyandy.<br /> <br /> Six protesters in the village were fined by the authorities for &quot;participating in an illegal rally.&quot;
6/11 A woman struggles to make her way in Koyandy.

Six protesters in the village were fined by the authorities for "participating in an illegal rally."
A state of emergency has been declared in parts of Kazakhstan after large-scale flooding forced the evacuation of nearly 16,000 people. The floods were caused by abrupt warm weather that led to a mass snowmelt.
Further south of the nation&#39;s capital, a resident of Aqtobe prepares a rubber boat to reach his flooded house on the banks of the Elek River.
7/11 Further south of the nation's capital, a resident of Aqtobe prepares a rubber boat to reach his flooded house on the banks of the Elek River.
A state of emergency has been declared in parts of Kazakhstan after large-scale flooding forced the evacuation of nearly 16,000 people. The floods were caused by abrupt warm weather that led to a mass snowmelt.
Dmitry, whose house was flooded, is afraid of thieves and refuses to leave his property.
8/11 Dmitry, whose house was flooded, is afraid of thieves and refuses to leave his property.
A state of emergency has been declared in parts of Kazakhstan after large-scale flooding forced the evacuation of nearly 16,000 people. The floods were caused by abrupt warm weather that led to a mass snowmelt.
Women who were displaced by the flooding in Aqtobe rest at a gym that is now being used as an evacuation center.
9/11 Women who were displaced by the flooding in Aqtobe rest at a gym that is now being used as an evacuation center.
A state of emergency has been declared in parts of Kazakhstan after large-scale flooding forced the evacuation of nearly 16,000 people. The floods were caused by abrupt warm weather that led to a mass snowmelt.
&quot;I repaired my poor house [damaged in 2017 flooding] myself,&quot; said&nbsp;Karima Isagulova, who is now demanding that authorities reimburse her for the latest flood damage.
10/11 "I repaired my poor house [damaged in 2017 flooding] myself," said Karima Isagulova, who is now demanding that authorities reimburse her for the latest flood damage.
A state of emergency has been declared in parts of Kazakhstan after large-scale flooding forced the evacuation of nearly 16,000 people. The floods were caused by abrupt warm weather that led to a mass snowmelt.
A woman sleeps on the gym&#39;s hardwood floors.<br /> <br /> Officials said the situation remains &quot;complicated&quot; in several regions, where floodwaters continue to rise. This year&#39;s flooding exceeds the scale of the 2012 and 2017 floods, which were considered the largest in 30 years.
11/11 A woman sleeps on the gym's hardwood floors.

Officials said the situation remains "complicated" in several regions, where floodwaters continue to rise. This year's flooding exceeds the scale of the 2012 and 2017 floods, which were considered the largest in 30 years.
A state of emergency has been declared in parts of Kazakhstan after large-scale flooding forced the evacuation of nearly 16,000 people. The floods were caused by abrupt warm weather that led to a mass snowmelt.
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Kazakh Deputy Emergencies Minister Bauyrzhan Syzdyqov said on April 2 that more than 15,700 people, including almost 6,200 children, have been evacuated across the nation amid unprecedented floods caused by abrupt warm weather that led to a mass snowmelt. Syzdyqov said the situation remains "complicated" in several regions, where flood waters continue to rise. Three people are still missing in the northeastern region of Abai. On April 1, President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev officially reprimanded regional governors and the cabinet for "poorly dealing" with the situation and called on the Central Asian nation's businessmen to contribute to the rescue efforts. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, click here.

Almost 16,000 Kazakhs Evacuated As Floods Wreak Havoc
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Almost 16,000 Kazakhs Evacuated As Floods Wreak Havoc
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    RFE/RL's Kazakh Service

    RFE/RL's Kazakh Service offers informed and accurate reporting in the Kazakh and Russian languages about issues that matter in Kazakhstan, while providing a dynamic platform for audience engagement and the free exchange of news and ideas.

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