Authorities urge Tyrnyauz residents to evacuate due to mudflow threat

In connection with the threat of a new mudflow, the authorities of the Elbrus district called on residents of the Tyrnyauz microdistrict "Gerkhozhan" to evacuate, for whom three temporary accommodation points have been organized.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, on July 31 a powerful mudflow came down in Tyrnyauz, the mudflow filled the first floor of the Elbrus district administration building. Some microdistricts were left without water, electricity and gas, the authorities announced the evacuation of residents of a number of houses. 15 people were accommodated at the temporary accommodation point organized at school No. 3, including four children.

Transportation to temporary accommodation points will be organized

The Elbrus District Administration posted an evacuation announcement today on its Telegram channel. "Due to the threat of mudflows, an evacuation of residents of the Gerkhozhan microdistrict (Upper and Lower) is announced. Depending on weather conditions. Transportation to temporary accommodation sites will be organized for you. We ask you to prepare for evacuation. We will inform you about the departure times and locations of transportation," the publication says.

Temporary accommodation sites for residents of the Gerkhozhan microdistrict (Upper and Lower) have been organized in schools in the villages of Bylym and Kendelen. "For residents of the microdistricts above the bridge area: Lyceum No. 1 in the urban settlement of Tyrnyauz. Bring with you: documents, medicines, water (if possible), warm clothes and everything you need. Information will be additionally transmitted through the warning system! Buses will be waiting for you," the district authorities reported.

We ask you to leave the city if possible

Car traffic has also been opened on the bypass road towards Nalchik, the district administration reported. Traffic will be carried out until 11:00 [Moscow time], depending on weather conditions. We ask you to leave the city if possible," the publication says.

We remind you that on July 21, a mudflow damaged the supports of a bridge on the highway to the Elbrus resort; a state of emergency was declared in the Elbrus district. Some residents of Tyrnyauz were evacuated. In addition, more than 40 tourists were evacuated from the Prielbrusye park to a temporary accommodation point in Tyrnyauz.

Back in 2018, geophysicists warned the authorities about the need for urgent repairs to the mudflow channel in Tyrnyauz and the organization of a system to alert people to the threat of mudflows.

In June 2021, the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that a round-the-clock post had been set up on the Gerkhozhan-Su River to monitor possible mudflows. Earlier, in In 2020, geophysicists spent two weeks surveying the Buzulgan landslide. During this time, the landslide moved down by 20 meters, and its lower boundary was two kilometers from Tyrnyauz. To avoid catastrophic consequences, it is necessary to clear and reconstruct the mudflow channel, the scientists said at the time.