In Almaty and the Almaty Region, round-the-clock monitoring of moraine lakes at risk of bursting has begun, using seasonal high-altitude observation posts. The posts operate throughout the entire mudslide-prone period and are designed to monitor the hydrological situation and quickly relay information when threats arise.
WHERE THE OBSERVATION POSTS HAVE BEEN SET UP
According to the Ministry for Emergency Situations (MES), five high-altitude observation posts of the State Institution "Kazselezashchita" have begun operating in Almaty. They are located on Lake No. 13-bis and Lake No. 10 in the basin of the Ulken Almaty River, on Lake No. 8 and Lakes No. 9–10 in the basin of the Aksay River, as well as at the "Kumbel" hydrological post in the upper reaches.
Similar posts previously began operating in the Almaty Region as well. Lakes No. 1, No. 2, and No. 5 in the basin of the Turgen River, Lakes No. 8 and No. 19 in the basin of the Talgar River, Lake No. 15 in the basin of the Kaskelen River, and the "Bolshoy Klyuch" hydrological post have been placed under round-the-clock observation.
HOW THE MONITORING IS ORGANISED
The seasonal posts provide continuous observation of the condition of the moraine lakes, monitoring of the hydrological situation, and timely detection of possible changes. If a threat arises, the information is relayed promptly.
As the MES notes, observation will be conducted around the clock until the end of the mudslide-prone period.
HOW MANY POSTS ARE OPERATING DURING THE MUDSLIDE SEASON
Currently, 38 seasonal observation posts are functioning for the duration of the mudslide season. In addition, 78 permanent observation posts monitor the condition of mudslide-prone rivers.
According to the ministry, this set of measures is aimed at improving public safety and reducing the risks of emergencies associated with the possible outburst of moraine lakes.
CONTEXT
It is worth noting that a digital system called Tasqyn, designed for flood forecasting, operates in Kazakhstan. Previously, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation repeatedly stated that the system was in industrial operation and that, based on the results of the 2026 flood period, it had generally identified the main forecast trends correctly, despite some deviations in the assessment of water volumes.
At the same time, the FBRC editorial team previously noted that when discussing the operation of Tasqyn, ministry representatives could not name the criteria by which the system was accepted for industrial operation, and did not provide public data on its measurable accuracy. The editorial team has repeatedly sent official requests on these issues to state bodies.
Meanwhile, despite the presence of a digital forecasting system, the MES continues to use a network of seasonal high-altitude posts for round-the-clock observation of the condition of moraine lakes.
