The municipal solid waste landfill in the Almaty region has been burning for three days. The Ministry of Emergency Situations has deployed additional forces from different regions. Meanwhile, residents of Almaty are complaining about the smell of burning in the city.
According to Tengrinews.kz, on 15 September, eyewitnesses travelling along the Almaty – Taldykorgan highway reported a large fire at the landfill.
Later, the Department of Emergency Situations of the Almaty region clarified that work is underway at the site for land reclamation, covering the area with soil, and extinguishing the fire's hotspots. The Ministry of Emergency Situations noted that the firefighting efforts continue.
"Additional forces and resources from the Emergency Departments of the cities of Almaty, Shymkent, the regions of Zhetysu, Abay, Karaganda, Turkestan, Zhambyl, and servicemen from military units 52859 named after Martbek Mamrayev and 68303 named after Kasym Kaysenov of the Ministry of Emergency Situations have been brought in to eliminate the fire. In total, over 200 personnel and more than 90 units of equipment are involved," the ministry reported.
According to rescuers, the firefighting is complicated by the high fire load and variable wind. The depth of smouldering reaches up to 10 metres, and the wind direction is constantly changing.
"To extinguish the fire, 11 nozzles and one portable monitor nozzle are being used," the Ministry of Emergency Situations specified.
As noted by the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the firefighting work is being carried out around the clock.
"Day and night, rescuers are covering the hotspots with inert materials, followed by soil compaction. This method allows for the complete sealing of oxygen supply to the smouldering areas and ensures the final elimination of the fire," the department explained.
On the instructions of the Minister of Emergency Situations, Major General Chingis Arinov, the Chairman of the Fire Service Committee, Erlan Turegeldiev, arrived at the scene. An operational headquarters has been set up at the landfill, managing the elimination work around the clock.
At the same time, the office of the Akim of the city of Alatau, which is temporarily located in Almaty, has prepared a decision to declare a local-scale technogenic emergency in connection with the fire at the landfill.
The document, posted on the portal "Open NLA", is available for discussion until 12:00 on 17 September.