Historic Flooding on Tuul River Since 1966
Heavy rain causes worst flooding in Ulaanbaatar since 1966
Last week, Ulaanbaatar experienced heavy rain for two days, which led to the Tuul River reaching flood levels between 260 cm and 342 cm. This resulted in the river level exceeding by a total of 82 cm, marking the worst flooding in the Tuul River since 1966. In comparison, the flood level in 1966 reached 310 cm, while last year it reached 311 cm.
Fortunately, despite the challenging conditions, emergency and professional organizations swiftly responded to a total of 211 calls with 1118 employees and 121 vehicles. Thankfully, no injuries or fatalities were reported.
Efforts are now being made to prevent future flooding by moving willow and silt within the Selbe River’s engineering structure. It has been emphasized that no trees or bushes should be present inside the engineering structures or dams. This work has been ongoing since January 5, with 24 km of dams built along the Selbe River since 1966. Some parts of the dam, originally constructed by hand, are being upgraded to a reinforced concrete structure.
Moreover, out of the planned construction of 12 drainage networks this year, six have already been completed. The remaining networks are expected to be operational before the Naadam festival.
These measures aim to mitigate the effects of flooding and better prepare Ulaanbaatar for future incidents, ensuring the safety and well-being of its residents.
