Azerbaijan offers condolences to Kazakhstan over deadly wildfires

President Ilham Aliyev has expressed condolences to Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in connection with the human casualties as a result of a forest fire in the Abai region.

Information about this was distributed by the Azerbaijani presidential press service, Caliber.Az reports.

"We were extremely saddened by the news of heavy casualties and serious consequences as a result of major forest fires in Abai Region. On the occasion of this tragedy, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I offer my profound condolences to you, families and loved ones of those who were killed, and all the people of Kazakhstan, wish those injured a speedy recovery, and that the consequences of the natural disaster will be eliminated soon," the president said in his message of condolences.

Tokayev declared June 12 a nationwide mourning day for those killed by the major wildfires, the Kazakh presidential press service reports.

"I declare this Monday [June 12] a day of national mourning. We will mourn together with you, remember the names of the dead. I ask you to be strong and stay calm. Appropriate measures will be taken in all directions, be it law enforcement agencies or ministries," Tokayev said during a meeting with the families of those killed as a result of a large-scale fire in the Semey Ormany Nature Reserve.

The death toll in major forest fires in Kazakhstan’s eastern Abai Region is 14, according to local media reports.

“The bodies of 11 more people were found during the search operations,” state-run news agency Kazinform reported citing the country’s Emergencies Ministry.

The identities of the victims are being determined, the agency added.

Earlier, search and rescue teams recovered the bodies of three forest employees and were searching for 11 others in the 60,000-hectare (148263-acre) fire.

The ministry said in a statement that more than 600 personnel, six helicopters and 168 pieces of equipment are involved in firefighting efforts.

The wildfires have occurred due to the dry and hot weather conditions.