Floods - The Times Of Central Asia

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Asian Development Bank

ADB Issues Disaster Relief Bonds to Support Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on May 3 that it had issued its first Disaster Relief Bonds (DRBs), also known as catastrophe bonds, to help Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan respond to earthquakes and floods. The bonds are part of ADB’s Risk-Layered Disaster Relief Finance Program, which seeks to reduce the financial impact of natural disasters and climate-related shocks. Both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are highly vulnerable to such events but have limited fiscal capacity and risk transfer mechanisms to respond effectively. “With this inaugural sovereign catastrophe bond, our developing member countries in Central Asia gain rapid, committed financing when disaster hits, so they can build back faster. This bond will pave the way for future issuances, and over time deepen investor engagement in this dynamic region,” said ADB Vice-President for Finance and Risk Management Roberta Casali. The DRBs are designed to provide rapid liquidity following severe earthquake or flood events. Once a qualifying disaster occurs, funds will be disbursed through national social protection systems to support affected populations, particularly the most vulnerable. ADB issued separate three-year bonds worth $80 million each for the two countries. Both instruments carry a coupon composed of the compounded Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), plus a funding margin of 4 basis points and a risk margin of 600 basis points. The bonds were priced at par and are set to mature on May 30, 2029. The offerings attracted broad investor interest. For the Kyrgyzstan tranche, 64% of the bonds were placed in Europe and 36% in the Americas. By investor type, 37% went to specialized insurance-linked securities funds, 32% to insurance and reinsurance companies, and 31% to fund managers. For the Tajikistan tranche, 60% of the bonds were placed in Europe and 40% in the Americas. By investor type, 36% went to insurance-linked securities funds, 33% to insurance and reinsurance firms, and 31% to fund managers. “We are delighted by the strong response from the global investor community, whose support has further enabled the transfer of sovereign disaster risk from the public to the private sector,” said Jordan Brown, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Aon Securities, which acted as dealer, initial purchaser, and sole bookrunner for the transaction. ADB approved the $56.4 million Risk-Layered Disaster Relief Finance Program in November 2025.

Floods

Heavy Rain and Mudflows Kill Four in Tajikistan

Heavy rain and landslides have swept parts of Tajikistan in recent days, killing at least four people and damaging dozens of homes, as well as roads and farmland. In one incident, a boat carrying students capsized in a river but all the passengers were rescued. Three people were killed and three others were hospitalized in the southern city of Kulob after an overnight deluge, the press office of Tajikistan’s presidency said on Saturday. President Emomali Rahmon expressed condolences and instructed top officials to go to the scene of the disaster and help affected families. Intense rainfall continued over the weekend. One person died and two others were seriously injured in a lightning strike in Kaduchi village on Sunday afternoon, according to Tajikistan’s Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense. The victims were taken to a hospital in the western city of Tursunzoda. Mudflows damaged homes, roads, and other infrastructure in several villages and settlements. Some canals filled with mud, stones, and gravel before overflowing into nearby streets. Emergency workers brought in heavy machinery and pumps to clear debris and water. The boat that capsized on Sunday afternoon was carrying seven secondary school students and their class teacher on the Syr Darya River, which runs through the northern city of Khujand. The group had arrived at a cultural and entertainment park for the excursion. Boatmen and other people rescued the students, according to an official account.

Floods

Heavy Rains Flood Newly Renovated Streets and Market in Southern Kyrgyzstan

A sudden downpour on July 10 inundated parts of Osh, southern Kyrgyzstan’s largest city, flooding recently renovated streets, a newly opened municipal market, and multiple residential and public buildings. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES), the city’s drainage system overflowed after several hours of heavy rainfall. Three private homes and the basement of an apartment block were submerged, along with the Family Medicine Center and the State Archive. Emergency services evacuated nine residents to safety, while 80 personnel, including firefighters and rescue teams, were deployed to respond to the crisis. Authorities blamed the flooding on clogged drainage canals and irrigation ditches. “The primary cause of the flooding was the failure to properly clean drainage systems in several districts,” the MES reported. “Accumulated garbage and debris blocked water flow, leading to road flooding and hindering pedestrian movement.” Despite earlier instructions from Emergency Situations Minister Boobek Azhikeev to clear stormwater infrastructure in anticipation of the rainy season, the preparation appears to have been incomplete or ineffective. Osh Mayor Jenishbek Toktorbaev toured the affected areas, met with residents and business owners, and ordered an expedited cleanup operation. Videos released by city authorities show the mayor wading through flooded streets and assessing damage. [caption id="attachment_33891" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] @mchs.gov.kg[/caption] The timing of the flooding was particularly ironic. Just days earlier, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Kamchybek Tashiev had visited Osh, praising Toktorbaev’s urban development initiatives and presenting him with a ceremonial car. Under Toktorbaev’s leadership, the city has invested in infrastructure upgrades, including road reconstruction and the demolition of illegal structures. However, traders at the newly inaugurated municipal market voiced frustration over poor planning. Speaking to local media, they said the site lacked adequate drainage and roofing, leaving commercial aisles waterlogged. “They rushed the relocation,” one vendor said. “The market should have been completed before moving us from the old site.” Residents noted that such flooding has become a recurring issue during Osh’s rainy season, with stormwater systems consistently overwhelmed by downpours.

Floods

Flash Floods Severely Damage Irrigation Infrastructure and Crops in Tajikistan

Heavy rains and ensuing flash floods have inflicted significant damage on agriculture and infrastructure near the city of Penjikent in northwestern Tajikistan. The rural community of Kosatarosh was particularly hard-hit, with key irrigation canals damaged and dozens of hectares of farmland inundated. Key Canals and Farmland Affected According to the emergency response headquarters under the Penjikent city administration, flooding and mudslides disrupted the flow of two major irrigation canals, Khalifa Hassan and Farmetan. Around 20 meters of the bank of the Khalifa Hassan Canal was washed away, with sediment and debris accumulating in the channel. The Farmetan Canal was partially blocked, endangering the water supply for local farms. The disruption poses a serious threat to agricultural output, as the Khalifa Hassan Canal supplies water to over 3,500 hectares of cropland and orchards. Local authorities estimate that at least 80 hectares of rice, potatoes, corn, and other crops, cultivated by both collective farms and private households, were affected. On the morning of June 16, Penjikent Mayor Abduholik Kholikzoda visited the affected area and held an emergency meeting with representatives of the Committee for Emergency Situations and other relevant agencies. Authorities agreed to initiate a rapid damage assessment and commence restoration work. The State Administration for Land Reclamation and Irrigation of the Zarafshon River Basin has been tasked with clearing debris from the canals and repairing damaged sections. Specialists from the Zarafshon joint venture have already deployed equipment and begun initial repair operations. Authorities Had Issued Warnings The Tajikistan Hydrometeorological Agency had issued a warning on June 12-13 about the heightened risk of mudslides in mountainous and foothill regions, including areas in Sughd region, such as Ayni, Penjikent, and Iskanderkul, as well as regions under direct republican jurisdiction and parts of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. “Precipitation expected in mountainous and foothill areas could lead to mudslides,” the agency warned. The Emergency Committee advised residents to avoid rivers and reservoirs, suspend fishing and hunting, and temporarily cease grazing livestock in vulnerable mountainous areas. Volatile Summer Weather Increases Risk Forecasters predict that June 2025 will be unusually hot across Tajikistan, with temperatures expected to exceed seasonal averages by more than two degrees. The southern and lowland regions are expected to experience particularly high temperatures. Despite the heat, meteorologists warn of possible short-term rainfall, thunderstorms, dust storms, and squalls. Authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant, particularly in flood-prone mountainous areas, where weather volatility continues to pose a risk. The situation in Penjikent underscores the increasing vulnerability of such regions to climate-induced disasters.

Water

Four New Reservoirs to Be Built in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation plans to begin construction of four new reservoirs in the west and south of the country this year, Minister Nurzhan Nurzhigitov announced at a government meeting. Kazakhstan regularly faces two conflicting water-related challenges: the risk of spring floods inundating settlements and a summer water shortage for agricultural irrigation. To address both issues, construction of the new reservoirs will begin in 2025. The Akmola and Kalguty reservoirs will be built in the Zhambyl region in southern Kazakhstan, while the Karaozek reservoir will be located in the Kyzylorda region in the southeast. The Bolshoi Uzen reservoir will be built in the West Kazakhstan region. "The Akmola, Kalguty, and Karaozek reservoirs will ensure water supply for 22,500 hectares of irrigated crops during the growing season, while the Bolshoi Uzen reservoir will help retain flood and meltwater, preventing flooding in two settlements with a combined population of 5,000," Nurzhigitov said. In addition to the new reservoirs, the government plans to reconstruct the Ters-Ashchybulak and Karakonyz reservoirs in the Zhambyl region, as well as the Koskorgan reservoir and the Koksarai counter-regulator in the Turkestan region in 2025. As part of an irrigation infrastructure modernization program, 115 canals covering a total of 3,452 kilometers will be upgraded across six regions: Almaty, Zhambyl, Zhetysu, West Kazakhstan, Kyzylorda, and Turkestan. Additionally, new structures will be built to replenish the Astana reservoir. "By the end of the year, 12 projects for the construction and reconstruction of group water pipelines will be completed, providing 153 villages, home to 423,000 people, with access to quality drinking water. At the same time, 52 settlements will be connected to a centralized water supply system," Nurzhigitov added. Flood Preparedness Concerns Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s ruling AMANAT party held a meeting of its Party Control Committee, which sharply criticized the country’s flood preparedness. According to party officials, 1,223 settlements across Kazakhstan are currently at risk of flooding. The country has 1,395 hydraulic structures designed to control water flow, but 564 of them require repairs, including 20 that are in critical condition. In the event of their failure, 536 settlements, home to more than 1.3 million people, could be at risk of severe flooding. The party emphasized that public concerns over flood preparedness remain high, with approximately 100 complaints submitted this year regarding the condition of dams, drainage channels, and other protective infrastructure. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, Kazakhstan began releasing water from reservoirs as early as January to maximize storage capacity ahead of the flood season.

International Cooperation

Kazakhstan to Cooperate with China and Russia in Combating Floods

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation will sign a memorandum of cooperation with the Ministry of Water Resources of China to combat future spring floods together. The Kazakh ministry has also agreed with Russia to create a joint working group to coordinate actions during spring flood periods. Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, announced this at a government meeting on September 24. The conference addressed eliminating the consequences of unprecedented spring floods in the country’s northern and western regions and preparing for future spring floods. Massive floods in the spring of 2024, caused by the rapid snow-melt, destroyed thousands of homes and forced almost 100,000 people to evacuate from flood zones. Much of the spring flood water comes to Kazakhstan via trans-boundary rivers flowing from Russia and China. "To ensure the collection and safe passage of flood water in the future, the ministry plans to build 42 new reservoirs with a total capacity of 2.6 billion cubic meters, as well as to reconstruct 37 reservoirs with a total capacity of 3.7 billion cubic meters and about 14,500 km of irrigation canals. This year, the construction of two reservoirs in the Turkestan region and the reconstruction of three reservoirs in the Aktobe, Turkestan, and West Kazakhstan regions began," Nurzhigitov stated, adding that the spring floods led not only to negative consequences, but also allowed reservoirs to collect more than twelve billion cubic meters of water used for economic needs. As of the beginning of September 2024, 8.4 billion cubic meters of that water were used for agricultural purposes. Nurzhigitov reported that the reservoirs of Kazakhstan's northern, central, eastern, and western regions are now 80% full and added that the spring floods have also helped improve the environmental situation by directing excess water to places where it had not flowed for a long time. For example, 80 million cubic meters of flood waters were directed to the Kamysh-Samar lakes of the West Kazakhstan region. For the first time in decades, water arrived in the lakes of the Kyzylorda region through the Sarysu River. Since the beginning of the year, twelve billion cubic meters of water have been sent to Lake Balkhash, and 7.4 billion cubic meters to the Caspian Sea. Nurzhigitov also stated that, together with the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry, work is underway to create an information system for forecasting and modeling floods, which will be launched before the end of the year. "This information system will allow for flood forecasting to make strategic decisions. It will show potential flood risk zones on the map," Nurzhigitov explained. At the same meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev reported that the 2024 spring floods had affected more than 120,000 people across 12 regions. Bozumbayev emphasized that new housing for families affected by the flood was constructed in an unprecedentedly short space of time. In under four months, 2,576 new houses were built, and 5,767 houses and apartments were purchased on the secondary market. In addition,...