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.
