During his working trip to the
North Kazakhstan region, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev conducted an aerial
survey of the Kyzylzhar district, the outskirts of Petropavl city, and the
Sergeyev reservoir. He was presented a report on the current flood situation. A
state of emergency has been declared in six districts of the region, with over
10,000 people evacuated. During his meetings with residents, the Head of State assured
them of the state’s commitment to taking all necessary support measures and providing
comprehensive assistance, including one-time payments and compensation for
property damage. Residents whose homes are beyond repair will receive new
housing with necessary infrastructure.
“We are going through a difficult
time. It’s a national disaster. But we can also see some positive changes. The
water is gradually receding. I think the next ten days will be the most
critical, but we are currently taking measures to reconstruct the entire
country and eliminate the consequences of this disaster. As I have already
said, the government will not leave any citizen without proper care. Payments
are already being disbursed,” Tokayev said.
As the President noted,
supporting every Kazakh citizen affected by the disaster is his top priority.
Therefore, given the challenging flood situation and to conserve the budget,
the government, ministries, as well as city and regional administrations have
been instructed to refrain from organizing image-building and other major
events. Tokayev also inspected the Petropavlovsk hydroelectric complex, crucial
for regulating the flow of the Yessil River through the filling and discharge
of the Sergeyev and Petropavlovsk reservoirs. According to the governor, floods
in the region were caused by the active melting of drains on Yessil and the inflow
of water from the Akmola region, exacerbated by ice jams on the river.
“Both reservoirs underwent a
comprehensive inspection in 2022, and their technical condition was deemed
satisfactory. As of today, they operate according to the regular schedule,”
said Shugaip Ibatullin, director of the Kazvodhoz national state enterprise of
the North Kazakhstan region.
At a meeting with rescuers,
volunteers, and supportive business figures from the region, Tokayev once again
noted the strong unity of Kazakh citizens during the emergency situation and
expressed gratitude to everyone.
