The Minister of Emergency Situations, Yuri Ilyin, held a report meeting with the public of Aktobe on Aug. 8, 2022.

As noted by the Minister of Emergency Situations, the Ministry pays special attention to the creation of a public information field between citizens and the population of the country.

"Since the beginning of this year, clarifications on 235 appeals of citizens have been given through my blog. The leadership of the Ministry receives citizens on the Amanat party's online platform. To date, three receptions with the consideration of 10 appeals of citizens have been held," Yuri Ilyin said during the meeting.

Also, the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that the heads of territorial divisions held personal receptions of the citizens in all regions. The Minister spoke with the residents of Aktobe in detail on the priorities set by the Head of State on the path of the New Kazakhstan.

First. As part of the improvement of the administrative-territorial structure of the country, Abay, Zhetysu, and Ulytau regions were formed.

"In this regard, we have begun work on the creation of new units of civil protection bodies in the formed regions, which will further contribute to a rapid response to emergencies in these regions," the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situation said.

Second. The Head of State spoke about the need for open discussion of all national projects and strategic documents. The institution of the National Kurultai was created in this direction. At the level of the Ministry, the Public Council on the activities of civil protection bodies has been functioning since February 2021. Sessions of the Public Council are held quarterly with consideration of issues affecting the interests and rights of citizens in the sphere of civil protection. As Yuri Ilyin noted, 125 normative legal acts of the Ministry have already been redrafted with participation of members of the Public Council.

Third. The Head of State signed a decree on the de-bureaucratization of the state apparatus in April of this year. The Decree provides for a set of systemic and applied measures, the implementation of which will accelerate decision-making in the state apparatus, increase the independence and personal responsibility of the first heads of government agencies, reduce the flow of documents and reporting.

These measures will strengthen the independence of government bodies, decentralize power functions and increase the efficiency of civil servants.

"Today our country pays special attention to the development of civil society and the protection of the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of citizens. Close interaction of the state with the public allows the population to see objective and reliable information in all spheres of life. The urgent issues of emergency prevention and liquidation do not remain in the shadow," the head of the Ministry said during the meeting.

Thus, since the beginning of this year, more than 250 emergency situations took place in the region, 619 people were rescued, units of emergency situations carried out more than a thousand and a half trips, 782 people were evacuated from emergency zones, first aid was provided to 74 injured people.

"Unfortunately, as a result of emergencies, 28 people were injured, of whom 15 died. Compared with the same period, the death rate from emergencies decreased by 37.5%, the rate of injuries by 40.4%. The main share of emergencies and fatalities is accounted for for fires. 7 out of 10 people died in fires, 2 died in water, 1 died in a building collapse," Yuri Ilyin said.

The waterlogging problem

In 4 settlements (Aktobe, Saryzhar village of Martuk district, Bashili village of Mugalzhar district, Sagashili and Basshili village of Mugalzhar district) of the region an emergency situation due to the deterioration of the flooding situation have been announced. From March 31 till April 9, 2022, the flood and melt water flooded 64 houses and 104 summer houses. In total, 520 people were evacuated. Flooding of residential and holiday homes in Aktobe was caused by incomplete works on cleaning of the channels of Sazda, Jenishke, Peschanka, Tamda rivers from overgrowth of shrubs, trees and reeds.

In 2018, due to the petitions of environmental activists in the region, the work on the cleaning of these riverbeds was stopped. To date, the issue of correcting the projects to clean up the river beds and river channels remains open. This, in turn, has provoked repeated flooding of houses and summer houses this year.

The Minister also noted that the sharp warming and heavy precipitation in March-April (in the form of snow and rain), provoked rapid melting of snow, inflow of meltwater and rainwater, which affected settlements located in lowlands and not equipped with irrigation and drainage systems.

Despite large-scale waterlogging, evacuation and notification of the population were conducted in a proper time and no human victims were admitted.

"I would like to express my gratitude to the volunteer movements, which actively helped us during the liquidation of the consequences of the floods. The results of the floods were considered at the Government session, according to the results of which the concerned state bodies and the akimat were instructed to ensure control and quality implementation in full of all planned activities of 2022, provided by the Roadmap for Flood Control Measures for 2021-2023," the Minister of Emergency Situations said during the meeting.

The Minister also reported that the responsible officials have been brought to disciplinary responsibility for the failure to implement the planned flood control measures. The working commission carried out an inspection of all flooded houses, acts were drawn up. The owners of 126 Aktobe homes and summer homes will be compensated for damages in the amount of 142 million tenges. 12 homeowners do not have title documents. Residents of flooded houses in Saryzhar, Sagashili and Basshili villages received sponsorship for repair and restoration of housing.

Fires and inflammations

Forest and steppe fires are one of the most dangerous elements today.

"From year to year in the spring and summer time on the territory of our villages there are fires associated with the burning of grass, including during agricultural work, burning garbage. In order to reduce the risk of their occurrence, the decision of the Akim of Aktobe region approved the Action Plan for the prevention and suppression of forest and steppe fires in 2022. Work on clearing of dry vegetation and combustible garbage in 96 settlements of the region is conducted, 706 km of mineralized strips are created. The forces and means of the subsystem of civil protection are brought to readiness," Yuri Ilyin said.

For reference:  699 adapted vehicles (687 vehicles of the Department of Emergency Situations, 12 vehicles of forestries of local executive bodies); 49 fire vehicles (40 vehicles of the Department of Emergency Situations, 8 vehicles of forestry agencies, 1 vehicle of NC KTZ, 1); 5 fire brigades, 102 people from the fire protection service of the NC KTZ; 323 volunteer fire brigades numbering 2,199 people; 7 regional forestries with a total staff of 63 people; a volunteer fire brigade with a total staff of 102 people.

There are 35 fire posts on the territory of the region, which provide fire protection to 124 settlements with the total population of more than 83 thousand people. There are 19 fire-fighting vehicles (providing 57,5 %) and 15 adapted vehicles in service of the posts. By the end of this year it is planned to create one more post (in Birlik village of Mugalzhar district).

More than three hundred volunteer fire brigades were created in the settlements with the number of more than 2 thousand people provided with special equipment.

For reference: 696 units of adapted equipment, 202 units of fire motor pumps and 1,436 units of backpack fire extinguishers.

In order to practice the skills of collection, departure and extinguishing of fires by voluntary firefighting units in cooperation with other services, 6 fire tactical exercises and classes were held. The Minister also reported that the staff of civil protection bodies, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, environmental and forestry agencies and akimats created 39 joint mobile groups numbering 195 people that made 339 raids.

According to the Minister, 70 people were brought to administrative responsibility for unauthorized fires, uncontrolled burning of dry grass in agricultural fields, burning stubble and other violations of fire safety rules as a result of the raids.

"Also a contract with Kazakhstan Garysh Sapary NC JSC on space monitoring of the territory of the region was signed. The plan of measures for the development of forestry of Aktobe region in 2021-2023, which provides for construction of 7 forest fire stations for accommodation of forces and means of fire-fighting service in order to prevent forest fires and their timely elimination is under stage-by-stage implementation," the Minister of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan said.

For reference: Aktobe forestry-1, Kobda-1, Temir-1, Martuk-1, Karabutak-3.

To date, the Department of Construction of Aktobe region developed a budget request, which was sent to the Department of Economy and Budget Planning of Aktobe region.

"As a result, since the beginning of the fire-hazardous period no forest and steppe fires have been registered in the territory of Aktobe region. At the same time, in practice, the human factor is often the cause of forest and steppe fires. I take this opportunity to urge residents to observe fire precautions in the steppe and forest areas," the head of the Ministry emphasized.

Ponds and water safety

The water safety of people becomes urgent for us with the onset of summer.

"Every day our employees conduct raids and patrols to suppress violations of water safety rules by citizens. The Department of Emergency Situations and akimats have conducted work to study the shorelines of water bodies in the region. According to the monitoring results 220 dangerous areas where bathing is prohibited," Ilyin said.

Now in the region there are 72 authorized places for bathing (municipal-51, private-21).

The Head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations also said that rescuers of 3 water-rescue stations of Aktobe are on duty round the clock.

As part of the implementation of a single 112 service project, the mobile application, FSM-expert, is launched in test mode, where you can track all the unequipped and potentially dangerous places for swimming.

To provide first aid to the injured on communal and private beaches there are 18 medical points. To reduce the number of deaths in the water bodies, in the 2GIS mobile application there is a section for posting information on allowed and prohibited places for bathing in the region's water bodies. Since the beginning of the swimming season the number of those who drowned in unauthorized places for swimming has doubled in the region. If last year during the swimming season 2 people drowned, this year 5 people have already drowned, including four children.

For reference: Since the beginning of the swimming season 73 people, including 30 children, had drowned in the country's ponds (in 2021 - 79 people, including 30 children).

"I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to every single person — observing elementary safety rules in the water will help save your own lives and those of your families and friends, especially children," the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations appealed.

Heating season preparations

With the end of summer, it is necessary to begin preparations for the heating season.

In order to prevent fires in housing, the employees of the Department of Emergency Situations of Aktobe region annually carry out a set of preventive measures.

"Door-to-door visits covered more than 58,000 houses (58,838), where more than 172,000 citizens live. According to the results of visual inspection of housing, more than 7 thousand violations of fire safety rules were established, the main share of them is related to the operation of electrical networks and electrical equipment, as well as heating systems," Yuri Ilyin said at the meeting.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Emergency Situations, despite the measures taken, the number of fires increased by 7.6% and six people died. The main share of fires is in the residential sector and transport. For the safety of citizens, we are actively working with the akimat on the replacement and repair of electricity and cleaning heating systems. At the same time, issues on the introduction of compulsory equipment of fire alarm, fire extinguishing and warning systems, as well as gas control in residential buildings are worked out.

For reference: Previously, these standards were provided only for buildings, residential apartment buildings of 10 floors and more.

As the Minister said, gas control in residential buildings was not previously required by law. The work on installation of fire detectors in newly commissioned systems of household gas supply is conducted with the help of the akimats. Thanks to their triggering, it will be possible to prevent deaths, said the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

For reference: In 2020-2021 in the territory of the region with the assistance of local executive bodies and with the support of non-governmental organizations and according to the branch of JSC KazTransGas Aimak, 9,621 sensors in the newly commissioned systems of household gas supply, including 3,631 sensors for carbon monoxide and 5,646 sensors for natural gas, 344 smoke detectors were installed in the region.

"In 2021-2022, 9,643 sensors will be installed in newly commissioned domestic gas supply systems, including 3,646 carbon monoxide sensors and 5,686 natural gas sensors, 311 smoke sensors. The approximate cost of fire sensors is up to 10 thousand tenge. In this regard, I would like to ask citizens to install fire detectors for their own safety, based on the possibilities," the Minister of Emergency Situations urged at the meeting.

Winter traffic             

A special attention is paid to preventing the death of people on the roads during the winter period.

"This winter, rescuers of the region from snow drifts rescued 407 people, including 51 children, evacuated 212 (11) and rescued from the snow captivity 109 vehicles (95 cars and 14 trucks). Our staff, in difficult weather conditions, risking their own lives, prevented the deaths of people," the Minister said.

According to the Ministry, currently the total length of snow-covered sections in Aktobe region is more than 71.6 km. or 6.5% of the total length of the republican snow-covered sections. At that, snow-stopping shields are installed only on 25 km of republican and 221 km of regional roads. As noted by the Minister, this number is not enough to ensure safety on the roads in winter.

For reference: it is necessary to install shields on 3.5 thousand kilometers of national and 4 thousand kilometers of regional roads in the country.

The head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations also noted that actions to eliminate emergencies in winter conditions are practiced in the framework of the Republican command post exercise "Kys" with the participation of representatives of the akimat, civil protection services and heads of potentially dangerous objects.

In the region there are 3 highway medical and rescue points, which can be used as heating points during the winter period.

For reference: Karabutak village-1 at 965 km of the Samara-Shymkent highway, Kalybay-1 at 1,076 km, Kalyby-1 at 1,076 km of the Samara-Shymkent highway, Kandygash-1 at km 99 of the Aktobe-Astrakhan highway, Kandygash-1 at km 99 of Aktobe-Astrakhan highway.

"The main causes of emergencies on the roads were: ignoring by the population and carriers messages about deteriorating weather conditions and road closures, faulty technical condition of vehicles, violation of traffic rules in conditions of poor visibility and ice. I ask citizens to take all the necessary precautions on the roads," Ilyin also urged during the meeting with the population.

Timely information

Turning to the issue of informing and warning the population, it should be noted that this is a complex of measures, including the launch of electric sirens and siren-voiced devices, interception of television and radio broadcasting, SMS — messages, posting operational information on websites. Currently, there are about 122 electric sirens, 78 siren-vocal devices and 71 local warning systems operating in the region.

For reference: In Aktobe, there are 58 electric sirens and 78 radios, the remaining 64 electric sirens in the district centers and towns, 2 of which are in a state of failure (two in district centers).

According to the Minister of Emergency Situations, a regional remote control warning system was also installed, which is integrated with the national civil protection alert system. The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Aktobe region installed modern equipment for the interception of digital broadcasting channels. Currently, 109 television channels and 12 radio channels are intercepted.

"According to the norms, it is additionally required to install 121st siren-voiced device. We solve this issue as part of the modernization of the warning system both independently and together with the akimat," Ilyin said.

For reference: According to the Comprehensive Plan "Socio-economic development of Aktobe region in 2022 - 2025", the purchase of siren-radio devices for a total amount of 605.5 million tenge is planned for 2023-2025 (14 sets of district control panels, 1 for each district, 14 sets of repeaters for the organization of radio communication; 67 sets of siren-radio devices).

"We have developed a mobile application, Darmen, which provides timely notification of the population within 5 seconds. Darmen is unique in that it allows you to instantly notify the population about the threat of an emergency. In this regard, I urge all Aktobe citizens to actively use this free application," Yuri Ilyin emphasized.

Forecasting and prevention of technogenic accidents in production

"Not less important direction of our ministry is the prevention of the technogenic accidents in the industry, which are a threat to the safety of citizens and the environment. Aktobe region is one of the major industrial regions of the country and the risk of accidents in certain industries remains at a high level. We exercise state control and supervision in the field of industrial safety at 449 enterprises of the Aktobe region operating hazardous industrial facilities, of which 71% (321) are of high risk (29% are not attributed to high risk according to the approved criteria for risk assessment and checklists in the field of industrial safety)," the Head of the Ministry emphasized giving the report.

For reference: the total number of hazardous production facilities is 23,280, including 4,519 hazardous technical devices.

Since the beginning of the year, 5 incidents were registered at hazardous production facilities operating trunk pipelines.

For reference: Incidents occurred at the facilities of Aktobe Oil Pipeline Department of KazTransOil JSC, namely at the main oil pipelines Zhanazhol-Kenkiyak - 3, Kenkiyak-Klukol - 1, Kenkiyak Atyrau - 1. The main causes of the incidents are problems with power supply.

One of the important directions of work on provision of industrial safety is timely decommissioning of morally and physically worn-out equipment, modernization and technical re-equipment of enterprises, ensuring broad introduction of modern technical systems of production process safety control. According to the "Consolidated plan on technical re-equipment of dangerous industrial objects for 2022" it is planned to replace 255 dangerous technical devices at the enterprises of Aktobe region. Replacement is carried out in accordance with the approved schedule.

According to the Minister of Emergency Situations, the divisions of Emergency Situations together with the Department of Housing and Housing Inspection of Aktobe and the Department of Energy and Housing and Utilities of Aktobe region developed a plan of joint action to prevent, prevent and control compliance with the requirements of safe operation of household cylinders and gas supply facilities for 2022.

For reference: employees of the Department of gas filling stations during the training of specialists in the training center of the Aktobe branch of JSC KazTrans Gaz Aimak lectures were held on: "The order of inspections at hazardous production facilities", "Ensuring industrial safety in the operation of gas filling stations".

At the same time, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and regional branches carry out explanatory work with owners of gas filling stations about not refuelling household gas cylinders, indicating the types of responsibility in accordance with current legislation and work on placing information boards at gas filling stations about not refuelling household gas cylinders.

Also on an ongoing basis is carried out explanatory work with the owners of gas filling stations and points on the need to instruct household and domestic consumers on the rules of operation of household gas cylinders, including during sub-zero temperatures.

For reference: On the basis of the resolution on involvement as a specialist in criminal case No.221500131000005 under art.361 part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Kazakhstan in relation to officials, employees of the Department were involved as specialists in the field of industrial safety. The Department specialists were asked the following questions: to determine the actual number and volume of tanks, as well as for compliance with the conditions of storage of liquefied petroleum gas in accordance with the legislation of Kazakhstan in the field of industrial safety.

For the elapsed period of the current year no accidents at supervised hazardous production facilities were registered, the Head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations said.

Legislative initiatives

"In order to improve the current legislation in the field of civil protection, we have developed a draft concept to the draft law "On amendments and additions to some legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on issues of civil protection," Yuri Ilyin said.

As part of this bill, it is planned to improve the social situation of our employees. These include, first and foremost, housing allowances, allowances for relocation and promotion, allowances for work in conditions close to combat operations, and much more.

For reference: transfer of rescuers from civil servants in the category of employees of civil protection, which will reduce the retirement age of rescuers, the benefits of sanatorium treatment for employees in cases of illness in the service; mandatory social insurance for rescuers, state inspector of state supervision of industrial safety from the budget; providing food (additional rations to basic standards) of employees and inmates of State Material Reserve.

Also, the Minister of Emergency Situations, Yuri Ilyin, said that plans include the issues of state material reserves, namely, the transfer of functions of operation (formation, storage, implementation release) of material assets mobilization reserve in the industry state agencies with the appropriate mobilization tasks and the introduction of the Institute of material assets by domestic producers.

Along with this, it is planned to improve norms in the field of industrial and fire safety, civil defense and introduction of the concept of National Crisis Management Center, Crisis Management Centers of territorial subdivisions of the Ministry, as well as definition of their functions and powers.

"In conclusion, I would like to dwell on the prospects for the development of our system in the region. First, today 24 fire brigades (2 specialized fire departments, 18 fire departments and 4 fire stations) and 4 operational-rescue units protect our citizens on the territory of the region, and it is not enough. In addition, it is necessary to build 8 fire depots and 6 fire stations," Yury Ilyin emphasized.

For reference: there are new 4 fire stations in the city of Aktobe -2, Khromtau region city of Khromtau - 1, Temir region village of Kenkiyak - 1, instead of the existing non-typical fire stations - 2 depots: Irgiz region village of Irgiz; Baiganin region village of Karauylkeldy, instead of the existing depots that are in an emergency condition - 2 depots: Martuk region village of Martuk; Uil district village of Uil.

Nowadays, at the expense of the local budget developed a design and estimate documentation for the construction of a typical fire station for 2 cars in Khromtau. In the process of developing design and estimate documentation for the construction of a typical fire station in the village of Karaukeldy, Baiganin region.

Also, according to the Minister, the tenders for the development of design and estimate documentation for the construction of a typical fire station for 2 cars in the village of Uil, Uil region, and in the village of Irgiz, Irgiz region have been announced. Currently, the construction of a fire station in Aktobe is underway for 4 cars, the completion is scheduled for the end of this year.

As informed the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, material and technical equipment of Fire Fighting Service makes up 62,3% from norms of equipment, there are 182 units of machinery of different purpose. The need is 27 vehicles. This year it is planned to buy 18 pieces of equipment. Also, the issue of creating a military unit of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in Aktobe is being considered. For this purpose, the Akimat of Aktobe region transferred a building to the Firefighting and Rescue Service State Institution of the Aktobe region for its subsequent transfer to the balance sheet of the military unit being formed.

"Second, the issue of housing payments, as well as reducing the retirement age of rescuers in the category of civil servants is being worked through to improve the social security of employees of civil protection agencies. Unfortunately, within the framework of one meeting, it is impossible to tell in detail about the activities of the Ministry and its subdivisions. The Ministry is ready for further cooperation with citizens and interaction in the field of civil protection," the Minister of Emergency Situations, Yuri Ilyin, summarized.