The cities and settlements of the Caspian basin in western Kazakhstan are facing the threat of flooding due to rising water levels of the Zhem River. Several settlements in the Atyrau region have been partially submerged, forcing residents to evacuate their homes Islam Supyaldiyarov in Kazakhstan writes to Daryo.
Western Kazakhstan, particularly the Atyrau, is an oil-rich region and a major contributor to the national budget. The Zhylyoi district, which is in a dangerous situation, houses the Tengiz oil field, to which the population of the city of Kulsary is being evacuated.
On April 4th, due to water overflowing from the Zhem River, meltwater spilled onto the Dossor-Kulsary highway, prompting its closure to all traffic.
On the same day, a state of emergency was declared in the Zhylyoi district. The following day, parts of the city of Kulsary, including the central stadium, market, and residential areas such as Zhadyrasyn and Vakhtovy, were flooded due to rising water levels in the Zhem River.
Residents of the city and nearby settlements have been trying to combat the forces of nature themselves by conducting shoreline reinforcement works, building earthen embankments, and so forth.
In addition to evacuating to Tengiz, the population has left the city in their own vehicles towards the villages of Borankul and Beyneu in the neighboring Mangystau region, where accommodation points have been prepared for them. It is also worth noting that a significant portion of the male population has remained in the city to combat the advancing disaster.
The last case of such flooding in the Atyrau region occurred in 1993-1994 when the towns of Miyaly and Kulsary were impacted, with the water level at the Atyrau hydroelectric power station reaching 601 centimeters.
It is expected that the water level in the Zhaiyk River, which originates in the Ural Mountains in Russia, will rise soon due to the significant influx of water from the Iriklinsk reservoir.
Since April 2nd, the water discharge volume from the reservoir has been increasing hourly to reduce the risk of flooding. This, in turn, could worsen the situation in the oil capital of Kazakhstan - Atyrau, with rising water levels.
It should be noted that a complex flood situation persists in several other regions of Kazakhstan as well.
Kulsary is a city with a population of 70,000, the majority of whom are employed at the Tengiz oil field, a giant oil field opened in 1979.
For nearly a whole day, the city's population struggled against the advancing water and attempted to halt the onslaught to save their homes and their city. However, evacuation of the population was initiated during the night.
In this difficult time, the residents of the city were compelled to take matters into their own hands to protect their homes and city.
Against the backdrop of the city's flooding, many inhabitants of the region lament the fact that a region that has been a significant contributor to the national budget for many years now finds itself in such a precarious situation. They express the sentiment that in such a challenging moment, the region appears to be unwanted by anyone, yet desperately needed by all.
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