Jambyl’s Earthquake Alert System Proves Ineffective Despite Major Investment

Warning systems installed in Kazakhstan’s Jambyl region — purchased with 300 million tenge in public funds — proved ineffective when a real earthquake hit, Orda.kz reports.

The region had already experienced strong tremors a year ago, prompting officials to urgently buy new alert systems. But it appears little has changed, and lessons were not learned.

This year, the region was hit twice by magnitude 5 earthquakes, and the new systems failed to deliver the level of safety and preparedness they were meant to ensure.

Despite this, officials in charge took no action to seek compensation from the supplier responsible.

And that wasn’t the only problem.

Among other things, there were also accounting errors and incorrect depreciation of equipment,the inspectors said. 

As a result of the investigation, officials from the akimats of Jambyl, Moiynkum, T. Ryskulov, and Talas districts, as well as the city of Taraz, have faced disciplinary action.

Original Author: Islambek Dastan