In the Sarkand district of the Zhetysu region of Kazakhstan, a serious accident occurred at one of the small hydroelectric power stations located on the Baskan River, near the village of Ekiasha. The incident occurred on the evening of August 12, reports the publication «Italics». 

According to local residents, at the beginning of the evening they heard a loud roar, after which a powerful stream of water burst out from under the dam. Within a few minutes, water flooded the entire site of the Upper Baskan hydroelectric power station, including the building and equipment, completely stopping the operation of the facility.

Rescuers, police and emergency crews arrived at the scene. The area was cordoned off and staff were evacuated. The breakthrough was eliminated only late at night.

The akimat of Zhetysu today commented differently on the information about the dam break and the flooding of the Baskan hydroelectric power station.

According to the actimat, on August 12 at 17.00 at the station of the Verkhne-Baskanskaya HPP-2, located on the Maly Baskan River in the village of Ekiasha, Sarkansky district, a local water supply rupture occurred.

«The actual situation differs significantly from the information disseminated online. Security specialists from Baskan Power LLP «Baskan Power» on site promptly cut off the water supply from the upper water intake, which prevented the spread of water outside the station territory», the report says.

According to the akimat, residential buildings located near the river were not damaged, there is no threat to the population or environmental safety.

«A technological breakthrough of the pipeline occurred, as a result of which water was released through the hydroelectric power station buildings and to the surface. The operational personnel of the hydroelectric power station cut off power, the water supply was stopped, and by 18:00 the pipeline was completely dehydrated. We have started pumping, today the water inside the building has been pumped out, and emergency restoration work is currently underway. As a result of the release of water, there is no damage to the local population, there is no flooding of residential buildings and farms, there is no environmental threat, the water has completely gone into the river bed», — said Daniyar Dosabaev, technical director of Baskan Power LLP.

According to the akimat, all services are now operating as normal.