Flooding forces 70,000 on Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan border to flee

AKIPRESS.COM - On May 2, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev had a telephone conversation with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to discuss elimination of the consequences of the flooding as a result of the busted reservoir dam in the border regions of two countries.
The Presidents instructed the governments to ensure coordinated work and prompt resolution of all arising issues. They reached an agreement on the preparation and implementation of a number of new programs and projects of cooperation in the priority sectors of the economy, including the expansion of car production at the joint venture in Kostanai, cultivation and processing of agricultural products with access to the markets of third countries, development of modern transport and logistics infrastructure and in other areas.
A busted reservoir dam flooded parts of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, forcing tens of thousands from both countries to evacuate, authorities said Saturday.
The Syr Darya river, which runs near the border between the two countries, overflowed after the dam broke Friday, the Uzbek and Kazakh governments said.
About 70,000 people from 22 villages in Uzbekistan and 5,400 people from four Kazakhstan villages were moved out.