Rare occurrence: 30-minute heavy rainfall in Zhetisu village
Heavy Flooding Hits Saryozek and Shetpe Villages in Kazakhstan
Two villages in Kazakhstan, Saryozek and Shetpe, have recently been hit by severe flooding, causing damage and displacement.
In the village of Saryozek, located in the Jetisu region, heavy rainfall flooded 50 yards and 8 houses, according to official reports. Locals attribute the problem to the outdated drainage system, claiming that the low foundation levels of the houses also contributed to the flooding. The strong currents caused a water pipe to burst, forcing residents to bail out water from their homes using buckets.
Meanwhile, in Shetpe, a village in the Mangystau region near the Caspian Sea coast, a real flood occurred after heavy rain. Fourteen yards were flooded, with some fences and outdoor toilets blown away. In some places, fences were blown away due to the flooding. Nine people had to be evacuated from the village, and the flooding also washed away roads and damaged power lines.
Aibek Umbetov, the head of the OCHS Kerbulak District, stated that more rain than usual has fallen in Saryozek, an anomaly not seen in the past seven to ten years. Rescuers reported that locals had received a storm warning beforehand, but were not prepared for such a natural disaster.
Kazakhstan is a largely arid to semi-arid country, with many areas prone to seasonal flooding, especially near rivers or low-lying plains. Floods in Kazakhstan typically arise from heavy spring snowmelt, torrential rains, or occasional dam failures. The most flood-prone regions often include areas near major rivers like the Ili, Irtysh, and Ural, as well as some lowland and steppe regions.
While there are no widely documented major flood disasters centered on Saryozek or Shetpe in the major flood records or disaster databases available publicly, localized flooding events might have happened due to rare weather conditions. Similar incidents have occurred in the region before, according to locals.
If you want detailed local flood incident information, you might check local government archives or Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations. Local news archives may have reports on minor or moderate flooding impacting those villages. Scientific papers or hydrological studies might have regional flood risk assessments.
For those seeking to access local government resources, it is essential to be aware that the language of communication may be Kazakh or Russian. However, many government agencies and local news outlets offer English translations or have bilingual staff available to assist.
In conclusion, the recent flooding in Saryozek and Shetpe has caused significant damage and displacement. The villagers are working with rescue teams to clean up the area and rebuild their homes. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared for natural disasters and the need for up-to-date infrastructure to mitigate their impact.
- The environmental science community might find interest in investigating the impact of the outdated drainage system on the recent flooding incidents in Saryozek and Shetpe villages of Kazakhstan, as the heavy rainfall could also be linked to broader weather patterns.
- As Kazakhstan is a country heavily affected by seasonal flooding, the ongoing discussion in environmental science about the effects of climate change on weather patterns warrants investigation to determine if such changes have contributed to the recent flood events in Saryozek and Shetpe.