Kazakhstan flooding death toll rises to 35

Almaty: Kazakhstan's president said the death toll from a massive flood that devastated a southern village has soared to 35.

A privately owned dam at a reservoir in the eastern Almaty region neighboiring China ruptured Thursday evening, unleashing torrents almost 2 metres high and completely destroying Kyzyl-Agash, a village of 3,000 people.

President Nursultan Nazarbayev said at a government meeting on Saturday that the owner of the dam could face prosecution for failing to take adequate safety measures in preparation for the spring floods.

Nazarbayev also criticised the Emergency Services Ministry for failing to properly check on the safety of water supply facilities across the former Soviet Central Asian nation.