Glacial melt blamed for flood in Central Asian city Almaty

Moscow, Jul 23: Officials in Kazakhstan say a flood that forced the evacuation of hundreds of people from the outskirts of the country's largest city was due to the rapid melting of a glacier in the nearby mountains.

The Thursday flood in the Central Asian city of Almaty sent water mixed with boulders and trees rushing through streets. No deaths were reported, but the Interior Ministry said 76 people sought medical help and 950 people were evacuated.

According to the ministry, glacial melt sent an unusually high amount of water into a moraine-dammed lake a lake formed by glacial debris that blocks a valley and the water burst out.

A soaring mountain range rises just south of Almaty. It's a key part of Almaty's bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.

PTI