150 populated areas in Kazakhstan endangered by mudflows: Minister

ASTANA. KAZINFORM - 150 populated areas in Kazakhstan are located in the potential zones of mudflow origin, First Vice Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev said at the Wednesday session of the Kazakh Ministry of Emergencies.

"Kazakhstan is one of the most mudflow-prone countries in the CIS. There are more than five thousand mudflow sites in the country, 1 200 of which endanger 150 populated areas," Minister Sagintayev noted.

According to him, the mudflow sites are mostly situated in the mountainous areas of south-eastern Kazakhstan with population reaching nearly six million people.

"Together with the Ministry of Emergencies we need to control the construction of protective barriers in those areas. This issue should be discussed with the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies and the Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning," Mr. Sagintayev stressed