A meeting on seismic safety issues was held in Almaty under the chairmanship of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The event was attended by the leadership of the Presidential Administration, the Security Council, members of the government, akims of cities and regions, as well as heads of regional emergency departments.
In his speech, the head of state noted that a third of the territory of Kazakhstan is susceptible to earthquakes. Over the past 5 years, seismological stations have recorded more than 45 thousand cases of earthquakes, most of which are of low magnitude.
– Frankly speaking, during the emergency situation in Almaty, the relevant authorities were not fully prepared for immediate measures. The townspeople were confused, not knowing how to behave. However, the main goal of this meeting is not to criticize, but to make concrete decisions. For example, most people didn’t even have their “alarm suitcases” ready. This should be taught to children in kindergartens and schools. A similar experience has already existed in Almaty, and it needs to be revived. Currently, the system of preparing citizens for emergency situations does not meet the requirements. Authorized bodies must carry out comprehensive explanatory work among the population. It is necessary to conduct regular training in educational institutions and government agencies. This is very important work that should begin immediately,” the president said.
The speech touched in detail on the readiness of the infrastructure for evacuation of the population and the warning system.
– The siren was not turned on, and this was the right decision, otherwise there would have been panic in the city. But it was necessary to ensure other connections with the population. The notification must solve several basic problems. And their priority depends on the scale of the threat. However, current algorithms do not take this into account. During a strong earthquake, people are not at all concerned about information about its physical characteristics and the location of the epicenter. They had already felt the power of the elements. At such a moment, the main thing is to provide citizens with information on how to proceed: “Is it possible to return to their homes?”, “Where to go to get help?” Therefore, the warning system needs to be revised and made more oriented towards practical needs. Technical means must ensure timely delivery of information to everyone. This time the SMS notifications arrived late. During the earthquake, those who spread misinformation also appeared. It is necessary to bring to justice in accordance with the law those who caused panic among people,” the head of state said.
The President criticized the poor material and technical equipment of the emergency prevention and response system. This applies both to the seismic monitoring network and to providing rescuers with modern equipment, machinery and equipment.
– Seismic observation is carried out by 70 seismological stations (in the cities of Almaty, Shymkent and 12 regions) of the National Scientific Center for Seismological Observations and Research LLP, 6 of them are inoperative. According to calculations by experts, the installation of an additional 285 seismic stations is required throughout the country. In the event of a devastating earthquake, the availability and accessibility of state material reserves will be of great importance. The ability to quickly restore transport links and organize medical care will play a decisive role. Akims, together with the Ministry of Emergency Situations, must make sure that all settlements are ready for this, not on paper, but in reality. We need to learn lessons from this earthquake and work on mistakes,” said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The leader of Kazakhstan drew attention to the fact that the issue of ensuring seismic safety during construction has not been fully resolved. According to him, security measures during an earthquake need a radical revision.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed the government, which is developing a Comprehensive Plan for the Development of the Seismological Industry for 2024-2028, to review approaches to ensuring seismic safety. He also demanded that specific measures be taken and clear criteria for assessing the results of this work be developed.
– It is necessary to radically improve seismological monitoring and earthquake forecasting. Citizens report that Google services warned them seconds before the first shock. Our systems were unable to do this. We are aimed at creating “smart cities” in the country, the management of which is based on the latest technologies, including the latest achievements in the field of artificial intelligence. Therefore, it is necessary to actively implement innovative solutions that have successfully proven themselves all over the world. The government needs to find the right solution in the shortest possible time regarding the use of modern technologies. And, of course, we need to give priority to Almaty as the largest city in the country, located in a seismic zone. Particular attention should be paid to the training of qualified seismologists and other specialists,” the president believes.
In his opinion, not only Almaty, but also other regions should be prepared for earthquakes and provided with the necessary infrastructure.
– Special gathering places and temporary shelters for residents should be checked. It is also necessary to effectively organize work to resettle citizens to safe places, provide emergency assistance to victims, and open mobile treatment centers. In addition, sufficient material reserves should be created. Another important point. In the event of a disaster, it is necessary to ensure the prompt arrival of rescue services from other regions, said the leader of Kazakhstan.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated the need to strengthen the seismic resistance of buildings and structures. The government and the akimat have been instructed to look into this issue.
– It is necessary to increase the population’s preparedness for emergency situations, not on paper, but in practice. The main task is to ensure the safety of citizens. This is primarily a matter of national security. In emergency situations, a quick response and coordinated work of all relevant structures are required. The so-called “golden hour” is important, when correct and timely actions will prevent panic and chaos, stabilize the situation and minimize the consequences as much as possible. Ensuring preparedness for emergency situations is a common task of state bodies under the leadership of the government,” the head of state noted.
The President also ordered to find out why the emergency warning system did not work , criticized the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and made an appeal to the residents of Almaty. During the meeting, Minister of Emergency Situations Syrym Shariphanov and Akim of Almaty Erbolat Dosayev also spoke.
By the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda
