More than 900 Almaty residents have been evacuated following a mudslide that hit the city early on July 23. No fatalities have been reported, however, homes in the mudslide area are reported to have been flooded.
Photo credit: Dauren Isayev
Experts believe the slide is a result of hot weather that melted portions of the Kargalinka Glacier near the city.
Almaty authorities have declared an emergency situation and have sent 1,196 rescue workers, backed by three helicopters and 160 units of equipment. They have also provided food and water, medicine and psychological counselling. They have also begun to clean the streets and repair damage to neighbourhoods, according to information released by the Committee for Emergency Situations of the Ministry of International Affairs.
Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Berdybek Saparbayev and Deputy Interior Minister Vladimir Bozhko have also visited the affected area, according to the committee.
Almaty has experienced an abnormally hot summer with temperatures above 40°C for 10 days prior to the mudslide.
