Earth tremors are a common occurence in Kazakhstan, whose largest city Almaty sits on multiple active fault lines and is at particular risk of damage.
An earthquake injured 67 people in Almaty on Monday night, authorities said, while three were reported to have died in the nearby Chinese province of Xinjiang.
"Frankly speaking, during the emergency situation in Almaty, the relevant authorities were not fully prepared to take immediate action," Tokayev told a government meeting.
"The citizens were confused, not knowing how to behave," said Tokayev, who stressed that the meeting was not to "criticise, but to make concrete decisions."
Citizens should in future be equipped with earthquake preparedness kits and should be educated on earthquake awareness, he told his cabinet and regional heads.
Officials fear that buildings in Almaty, many constructed before the 1950s and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, are not adequately prepared for future quakes.
dr-bk-cad/jbr/bc
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