At least 28 people were killed and hundreds were evacuated from their residences in southern Kazakhstan after flood waters had swept away two dams, the former Soviet republic's emergencies ministry said on Saturday.
Unusually heavy precipitation and melting snows have caused a dam to give way in the village of Zhylbulak, with a population of 820 people. The vast majority of the residents were evacuated. Another dam break has occurred in the village of Kyzyl-Agash.
"During a rescue operation on Friday night the rescue workers discovered bodies of 28 people, including 15 women and four children," the ministry said in a statement.
A road connecting the capital, Astana, with the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk was closed after flood waters made it impassable.
Kazakhstan's transport ministry traffic has also reported closures and delays on other roads in connection with the floods.
The emergencies ministry has set up a field hospital and a temporary tent camp for at least a thousand evacuees near the village of Kyzyl-Agash.
Rescue works were suspended overnight and will resume on Saturday morning with additional rescue units dispatched to the disaster area by the Kazakh military.
ASTANA, March 13 (RIA Novosti)
