The scientific project for seismological research in 2024-2026 is planned to receive 1.5 billion tenge.
According to the Media Agency «Kazinform», the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan reported that at the beginning of the year the «National Scientific Centre for Seismological Observations and Research» was accredited for 5 years as a subject of scientific and technical activity.
«Within the framework of programme-targeted financing, the scientific and technical task 'Assessment of seismic hazards in the regions and cities of Kazakhstan based on a modern scientific and methodological foundation' is participating in the competition announced by the Ministry of Science for 2024-2026», the department explained.
It is reported that from 2025, the Ministry of Science will consider ways to finance the scientific and technical programmes of the National Scientific Centre for Seismological Observations.
«On the instruction of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, with the support of the Almaty city akimat, 500 million tenge has been allocated for equipment modernisation for 2024, and it is also planned to finance a scientific and technical project in the field of seismological research for 2024-2026. The cost of the project is 1.5 billion tenge», the statement said.
At the same time, it became known that the department is preparing a project for major repairs to the building of the Scientific Centre for Seismological Observations.
Recall that at the beginning of the year, an earthquake occurred 264 km from Almaty, with a magnitude of 6.7. The intensity at the time was estimated at 5 points. Subsequent aftershocks were also recorded.
Following the earthquake, city residents had many questions for the Almaty authorities. For example, residents of the metropolis were baffled as to why the population warning system did not activate during the emergency.
The head of the Almaty Emergency Situations Department, Nurlan Atygayev, stated that «sirens are only triggered when earthquakes with a magnitude over 5.5 are recorded», whereas, according to his assurances, the amplitude at that time was only 4-5 points.
Furthermore, residents of the southern capital complained that SMS earthquake warnings did not reach them on time. The Emergency Situations Department told them that mobile network operators could not process the information quickly enough, so timely information arrived late.
At a meeting on seismic safety issues, President Tokayev criticised the work of the authorised departments and instructed the Anti-Corruption Agency, together with the Prosecutor General's Office, to determine how exactly the budget funds allocated for the warning system had been spent. It is worth noting that the Minister of Emergency Situations, Syrym Sharipkhanov, was later dismissed from his post.