Around 1,000 people were evacuated from areas around the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan, after floods and mudflow swept through residential streets on 23 July 2015.
According to the committee of emergency situations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan, high temperatures over the last few days have melted snow and caused a glacial lake to overflow, which in turn forced the Kargalinka River to overflow and sent mud and flood water racing downstream towards Almaty. Local media report that a dam on the Kargalinka River partially stopped the mudslide.
Districts on the outskirts of Almaty city, including Algabas and Alatau, have been worst affected. Authorities say that 1,036 people were evacuated from affected areas and accommodated in local schools. Six people were hospitalized and 78 were given medical assistance, according to the Сommittee for Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
A total of 127 houses suffered damage. Bridges, roads and power lines have also been damage. The latest reports from the emergency committee say that 3,000 people remain without electricity in the area, and work is ongoing to restore power supplies. A State of Emergency has since been declared in the city of Almaty.
Videos and Social Media
Сель сошел в Алматы. Фото ЧП / Новости – Казахстан http://t.co/SVGbxTAs6R #Алматы #сель pic.twitter.com/qPPYnJ2XAx
— Новости Казахстан (@newskazru) July 23, 2015
Опубликованы фото и видео с вертолетного облета в районе селя в Алматы http://t.co/OwDB7CLdBQ pic.twitter.com/wpyAS9cG6H
— Tengrinews (@tengrinewskz) July 23, 2015
Ночью в пригороде Алматы сошёл мощный сель. Эвакуированы сотни человек. О погибших не сообщается. pic.twitter.com/xyM0y3KOeV
— Новости. Как есть (@nourlnews) July 23, 2015
Утро в Алматы после сошедшего селя pic.twitter.com/NSgUIsvGiL
— Новости. Как есть (@nourlnews) July 23, 2015
Higher Temperatures, Snowmelt and Glacial Lake Outburst – Floods in Pakistan and Tajikistan
In the last 10 days areas of Pakistan and Tajikistan have seen similar floods and mudflows as a result of higher temperatures, snowmelt and glacial lake outburst.
The current flood situation in the Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, was, according to local officials, caused by a glacial lake outburst after unusually heavy rain fell on 15 and 16 July, and again on 19 July, 2015. At one point around 300,000 people were stranded by floods in the area.
The rapid melting of snow and glaciers due to higher temperatures between 01 and 15 July 2015 triggered mudflows in the Shugnan District in the eastern region of Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan between 16 and 18 July 2015.
