Impacted Locations:
North, West, East and Central Kazakhstan.
Event Details and Update:
Severe flooding continues to impact various regions of Kazakhstan, including Akmola, Aktobe, Atyrau, Kostanay, North Kazakhstan, East Kazakhstan and Pavlodar regions. Flood conditions are expected to worsen or peak in many parts of Kazakhstan this week, including the North Kazakhstan and Akmola regions near the Esil (Ishim) river, and West Kazakhstan and Atyrau regions near the Zhaiyk (Ural) river. Large cities which are or may be impacted by flooding this week include Petropavl, Oral (Uralsk) and Atyrau.
According to information released by the Ministry of Emergency Situations, over 107,000 people have been evacuated from various regions in Kazakhstan due to flooding. Currently there are no reports of airport shutdowns in the affected regions.
Actions to Take:
- Monitor local news for the latest updates on flooding and travel conditions (including road and airport closures) in your region. Flood conditions can vary dramatically within the same region and may worsen significantly in a short period of time.
- Gather emergency supplies and important documents, including passports, and prepare for a possible evacuation.
- Charge all essential electronics.
- If flooding is predicted or is occurring in your area
o Follow evacuation orders and heed warning signs.
o If possible, prior to evacuating, disconnect utilities such as gas, power and water and unplug appliances.
o Do not drive or walk across flooded roads.
Recommendations:
In an emergency, U.S. citizens should follow directions provided by Kazakh emergency services, particularly the Ministry for Emergency Situations. Emergency services in Kazakhstan can be contacted at the following numbers:
- Emergency Dispatch: 112 serves as the unified dispatch service for the Ministry for Emergency Situations. They will be able to connect you with any emergency service, to include police, fire, medical services, and rescue.
- Fire: 101
- Police: 102
- Ambulance: 103
- Gas Emergency Service: 104
For additional information on flood safety, please reference National Weather Service flood safety tips and resources. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also provides guidance on floods and floodwater safety.
Additional Best Practices:
- Stay informed by enrolling in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and ensure you can be located in an emergency.
- Keep contact information of the U.S. Embassy in Astana and U.S. Consulate General in Almaty with you.
- Make sure your passport is ready for use in case you should need to travel suddenly. Most countries require that it be valid for at least six months after the end of your trip and that it have two or more blank pages. See our passport page for information about renewing passports in Kazakhstan.
- Ensure you have insurance whenever you are traveling abroad. For more information, see Insurance Providers for Overseas Coverage.
Contact information for the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Kazakhstan:
U.S. Embassy Astana – +7 (7172) 70-21-00
Astana after-hours assistance – +7 (7172) 70-22-00
U.S. Consulate General Almaty – +7 (7272) 50-48-02
Almaty after-hours assistance – +7 (7272) 50-48-02
Email: USAKZ@state.gov
Kazakhstan Country Information
Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts
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