In Almaty, a massive blackout knocked out traffic lights, causing severe congestion on the roads. Local residents, tired of waiting for help, have taken it upon themselves to stand at intersections and try to restore order, reports infohub.kz.
Videos circulating on social media show citizens risking their lives to direct traffic in place of the non-functional signals. One Threads user, mashina.ourdoor, expressed outrage: "Where are all the patrol cars to manage traffic? Due to the widespread power outage, people are going out to direct traffic at intersections themselves."
Another resident, gera.iskander, complained about the dire situation in the city: "It's become truly unbearable to live in Almaty. Constant power outages and traffic lights out. Intersections are in chaos, and it's very dangerous. I walked home in this heat because I'm frankly scared to take a taxi or bus right now. But crossing an uncontrolled road is also risky. There are no traffic officers anywhere. And tonight there's a YE concert. I'm afraid to imagine what will happen, and I won't leave the house."
The situation is exacerbated by the hot weather and the upcoming concert, which could lead to even more chaos on the roads. Residents are urging authorities to take immediate action to normalize the situation.