The press service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that a natural fire in the Karaganda region has been contained. The area of the blaze is being determined.
According to the latest data from the agency, the area of the fire in the Karaganda and Pavlodar regions reached 45,000 hectares. It was noted that the firefighting was complicated by strong gusty winds, mountainous terrain, and a lack of access routes to the fire.
Recall that on 6 October, near the village of Koyandy in the Karkaraly district of the Karaganda region, dry grass caught fire, leading to a large steppe fire.
The fire spread quickly and soon crossed over into the territory of the Bayanauyl State National Nature Park in the Pavlodar region.
Initially, it was reported that the area of the fire was more than 3,000 hectares. However, the mayor of the Pavlodar region, Asain Baikhanov, soon stated that the fire area had grown to 6,000 hectares. Later, it was reported that the blaze had been contained over an area of 10,000 hectares in the Pavlodar region.
During the firefighting in the Karkaraly district, Khalil Khairat, a 33-year-old senior firefighter-rescuer, died. Four other people – two firefighters, a local resident, and a member of a voluntary firefighting unit – suffered burns. They were hospitalised.
Later, a fifth victim was reported. According to media, a volunteer who offered to help the firefighters is now in intensive care.