Astana, April 13 (EFE).– Kazakhstan’s government has canceled the upcoming Astana International Forum scheduled for June, as the Central Asian country grapples with the worst flooding it has experienced in decades, officials announced Saturday.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of Kazakhstan, stated in a press release that he hoped attendees would understand the decision to postpone the event until next year.
“The unprecedented flooding that has devastated large areas of Kazakhstan necessitates the redirection of all available resources towards recovery efforts and aid for those affected,” Tokayev said.
As of Saturday, floodwaters have forced over 102,000 people from their homes, including 34,000 children, particularly in flood-stricken regions.
The most critical situation unfolds in North Kazakhstan Province, which borders Russia, where floodwaters threaten to reach the regional capital within two days.
Gaukhar Nurmukhambetov, the governor of North Kazakhstan, highlighted the immediate risk to communities situated along the Yesil River and urged adherence to emergency service directives.
The flooding crisis persists in Kazakhstan’s northern, western, and central provinces, inundating more than 4,000 homes and nearly a thousand parcels of land.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that 35,551 personnel and over 3,000 vehicles are currently engaged in extensive rescue operations.
For more than a week, Kazakhstan and Russia have been jointly fighting to manage the swollen rivers that continue to submerge thousands of residences in both countries. EFE