Oskemen: Ecological Situation Worsening, Commission Created

The environmental situation in Oskemen is getting worse, Orda.kz reports.

The city has been shrouded in thick smog for more than a week. Since November 27, polluted air has spread throughout the city.

A special commission, including environmentalists, meteorologists, public figures, and deputies, has been created to monitor air quality. Severe violations have been found. 

In the oil refinery area, the permissible chlorine concentration was exceeded by two times. Also, Kazhydromet's automatic stations registered a high carbon dioxide content.

Unfavorable weather conditions, which, according to forecasts, will persist until November 30, aggravate the situation.

City schoolchildren have already been transferred to distance learning. 

Kazhydromet reported that the second-degree warning about adverse weather conditions in Oskemen and Ridder remains in force from 20:00 on November 29 to 20:00 on November 30. 

Forecasts remain unfavorable.

 
 
Against the deteriorating situation, the number of visits to the city's polyclinics has increased by 11%. 

Residents complain of coughing, sore throat, dizziness, increased nausea, throat burns, and headaches.

Officially, there are no diagnoses related to chemical exposure. According to environmentalists, hydrogen chloride emissions have been recorded recently and are associated with the activities of large factories in the region. 

The situation is also reflected in statistics - cases of lung cancer in the region have increased by 12.7% compared to last year. More than 72 thousand people were treated for respiratory conditions in Oskemen in 2024.

Air quality monitoring continues.

On November 27, Zhaksylyk Omar, who had led Oskemen since August 2018, announced his resignation as his term had ended.

Original Author: Artem Volkov

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