Almaty: The death toll from a massive flood
that devastated a village in southern Kazakhstan has soared to
35, the country's president said on Saturday.
A privately owned dam at a reservoir in the eastern
Almaty region neighbouring China ruptured Thursday evening,
unleashing torrents almost 2 metres high and completely
destroying Kyzyl-Agash, a village of 3,000 people.
President Nursultan Nazarbayev said at a government
meeting that the owner of the dam could face prosecution for
failing to take adequate safety measures in preparation for
the spring floods.
Nazarbayev also criticised the Emergency Services
Ministry for failing to properly check on the safety of water
supply facilities across the former Soviet Central Asian
nation.
Authorities said more than 600 emergency workers have
reached Kyzyl-Agash to help clear the debris and that police
have been posted at the entrance to the village to prevent
looting. Emergency Services Minister Vladimir Bozhko is
leading an operation to assess the scale of the damage.
An onsite commission is assisting in organizing funerals
and providing replacement documents for the surviving flood
victims.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, March 13, 2010, 20:13