Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting on the preparation for the flood period of 2025 with the participation of relevant ministers and akims of the regions. The key task is to ensure flood preparedness and reduce risks to the public and infrastructure.
Preparatory measures are being implemented to prevent a possible flood situation in traditionally dangerous areas. Akims of Atyrau, Kostanay, Turkestan, West Kazakhstan regions, Ministers of Ecology and Natural Resources, Emergency Situations, Transport, as well as Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation were heard.
According to hydrological forecasts, in winter the temperature regime is expected to be within the climatic norm, with precipitation exceeding the long-term norm. In order to improve the forecasting of the flood period in 2025, Kazhydromet organized and opened 31 level hydrological posts on river sections prone to flooding. Today, there are 377 hydro posts, 25 snow measuring routes and 347 meteorological stations. In 9 regions, specialized organizations have been established for the maintenance and maintenance of hydraulic structures owned by municipalities. Work continues on the adaptation of the numerical models "HBV" and "SWIM" for rivers, which will allow in the upcoming flood period to provide a hydrological forecast indicating the expected highest water level with the possibility of determining flood zones.
Work has been carried out on the mechanized cleaning of 95 km of canals in West Kazakhstan and East Kazakhstan regions. 51 river sections and 1 lake have been identified in 10 regions where riverbeds need to be rehabilitated as a matter of priority. Topographic surveys and bathymetry of floodplains and riverbeds are carried out on priority river sections in the central, northern and western regions. After completion of the work, the data will be sent to the ICRIAP for uploading to the FLOOD modeling system. GHARYSH.KZ.
Local executive bodies have built and strengthened 1,110 km of protective dams, of which 275 km are prepared for the flood season of 2025. Taking into account the experience of the current year and the scale of the disaster, more than 63 thousand people have been mobilized. About 7 thousand units of equipment were also involved.
During the reconstruction and repair of highways in flood-prone areas, work is being carried out to increase the height of the embankment of the roadbed, additional construction of bridges and culverts, increase the diameters of culverts and their number. 63 bridges have been built and 324 culverts have been constructed at the reconstruction sites. Work is underway to overhaul 6 emergency bridges and install 420 culverts. In total, 396 flood-prone areas, 68 bridges and 768 culverts have been identified along the republican roads, which have been taken under special control.
At the same time, according to the results of the inspection of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the implementation of flood control measures in the regions, the head of the Government was informed about the non-fulfillment of a number of works provided for in engineering plans.
Olzhas Bektenov criticized the pace of work on the ground and instructed to strengthen preventive measures to prepare infrastructure and hydraulic structures in those regions where they are not conducted at the proper level. Akims of Kostanay, Aktobe, West Kazakhstan, North Kazakhstan regions and Abai region were instructed to ensure the implementation of all planned measures within a month.
"Akims of the regions should take comprehensive measures to implement all planned flood prevention measures as soon as possible. First of all, to ensure the readiness of drainage channels, irrigation ditches and drainage systems. All flood—prone settlements should be collapsed and protected from the arrival of large amounts of water," Olzhas Bektenov stressed.
The Head of Government also instructed to ensure the protection of flood-prone settlements, prepare a sufficient supply of food and medicines. The same measures should be taken in places where transport links may be interrupted. In winter, it was instructed to organize the timely removal of snow, especially from rural settlements. Prepare special and engineering equipment in advance for the flood season. In addition, it is important to provide funds in local budgets for possible emergencies and prepare the necessary resources.
The Ministry of Water Resources is tasked with ensuring control over the volume of filling of reservoirs, if necessary, to take measures for safe discharge of water. To organize a regular exchange of information with neighboring States on water consumption and the occurrence of threats on transboundary rivers.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations, within the framework of the Koktem-2025 exercise, was instructed to work out an algorithm for specific actions in case of a complicated flood situation, including determining the grouping of forces and means for rapid response. The Prime Minister noted that a clear mechanism is needed for the delivery of forces and equipment to emergency zones, including by rail and air transport. It was also instructed to prepare stocks of explosives and inert materials, check the readiness of warning systems, identify reception points for the evacuated population and notify residents in advance of the designated places, provide safe areas for the removal of farm animals.
Separately, the head of Government focused on the issue of responding to the consequences of emergency situations, including compensation for damage. The Ministry of Emergency Situations, together with interested government agencies, should work out mechanisms for solving existing problems in this direction.
Special attention is also paid to the issue of timely informing the population about the rules of conduct in case of threat and flooding of settlements, evacuation from dangerous zones. Relevant instructions have been given to the Ministry of Culture and Information.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/ontustik/press/news/details/879300