2,054 people evacuated from flood-hit settlements in Kazakhstan

2,054 people including 613 children were evacuated from flood-hit settlements of Turkistan, Akmola, Kostanay, West Kazakhstan regions on Thursday, March 28, Kazinform News Agency reports citing the Ministry of Emergencies.

Together with the local executive authorities, the emergency personnel pumped out more than 1.7 million cubic meters of meltwater and laid over 82,000 sandbags and 20,183 tons of inert materials.

More than 6,200 employees of the emergency and local executive bodies, internal affairs department and other organizations, 1,600 specialized vehicles, as well as six aircraft of the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Emergencies and National Security Committee are involved in the search and rescue operation. 630 water pumps and boats are  also used.

Meltwater is being pumped out from flood-hit 313 private houses in Aktobe, Akmola, Kostanay, West Kazakhstan regions, and in 369 households of Aktobe, Akmola, Kostanay, West Kazakhstan and Abai regions, the Ministry of Emergencies says.

2,054 people, including 613 children have been evacuated in Turkistan, Aktobe, Kostanay, West Kazakhstan regions, with 960 residents staying in the temporary evacuation centers. 321 people, including 91 children, were evacuated by the aircraft, the Ministry adds.