Risk Management

Kyrgyz Republic

18 February 2026

In the Kyrgyz Republic, one of the project’s pilot areas is the Ton River basin. The river originates on the northern slopes of the Terskey Ala-Too range and flows into Lake Issyk-Kul. Due to the presence of numerous potentially dangerous glacial lakes in its upper reaches, combined with intense precipitation, the basin is considered highly prone to debris flows.

The lower section of the river, where the village of Tuura-Suu is located, remains particularly vulnerable. The basin has repeatedly experienced emergency situations linked to the outburst of high-mountain lakes. The most recent major event occurred in August 2024, when the outburst of Lake Zyndan caused a sharp rise in the Ton River’s water level, threatening residential buildings and local infrastructure. Thanks to the quick response of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic (MES), the river channel was redirected and approximately 400 people were evacuated, preventing flooding of homes.

To enhance the safety of Tuura-Suu, the GLOFCA project, in cooperation with the MES, initiated the construction of a debris diversion channel. The channel will redirect debris flows away from the settlement, thereby reducing risks to residential areas as well as to the Bishkek–Karakol highway, an important transport corridor. The initiative has received strong support from local residents, and the local administration actively facilitated the implementation of the construction works.

As part of the project, geodetic surveys were conducted, the foundation for the diversion channel was prepared, and embankment works were completed. In the near future, awareness-raising and preparedness drills will also be organized for the local population.

The measures in the Ton River basin are part of the broader regional GLOFCA project, which aims to strengthen the resilience of pilot territories in Central Asia to the risks of glacial lake outburst floods.