Fire in Kazakhstan's Almaty high-rise prompts evacuation of 60 residents

A fire broke out in an apartment in a 12-story residential building in Almaty on the evening of January 1, prompting the evacuation of dozens of residents, Kazakh authorities said.

According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, emergency services were dispatched to a building on Ryskulbekov Street, where an apartment on the top floor was engulfed in flames upon the arrival of the first fire crews, Caliber.Az reports via Kazakh media. 

Firefighters quickly deployed hoses and connected water tankers to nearby hydrants, allowing them to contain and extinguish the blaze. Authorities said the response prevented the fire from spreading to other apartments.

A total of 60 people, including 20 children, were evacuated from the building via the stairwell, the ministry said.

No information was immediately available on injuries or the cause of the fire.

By Sabina Mammadli