Environmental
Environmental emergency declared in western Kazakhstan amid severe Caspian Sea shallowing
An environmental emergency has been declared in the Kurmangazy district of Atyrau region due to alarming hydrological decline in Kigach and Sharan rivers and the Caspian Sea's coastal zone.
A local environmental emergency has been declared in the Kurmangazy district of Kazakhstan's Atyrau region following a dramatic drop in water levels in the Kigach and Sharan rivers, their canals, and the adjacent Caspian Sea coastal zone. District authorities, acting on recommendations from the emergency response commission, established an operational task force to coordinate mitigation efforts. An action plan is being developed to identify technical and financial resources needed to stabilize water levels, restore critical navigation routes, and protect fish migration to spawning areas. The crisis has also raised concerns about flood risks to nearby settlements and underlines the broader environmental stress affecting the Caspian basin, which has drawn national and regional attention.
- Status
- active
- Location
- Kurmangazy District, Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan
- Date added
- 2026-03-22 23:10 UTC
- Last updated
- 2026-03-22 23:10 UTC
- Source
- Caliber.az
- Connected threats
- Not provided