Kazakhstan deploys aircraft as wildfire spreads through Semey Ormany reserve

Kazakhstan has deployed additional emergency crews and aircraft to battle a forest wildfire in the Semey Ormany State Forest Nature Reserve in the Abai region, as hundreds of people have been evacuated from nearby areas.

The blaze broke out in the Borodulikha branch of the reserve, prompting a large-scale response involving emergency services, forestry personnel, specialised equipment and aerial firefighting aircraft, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

According to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations, reinforcements from the Abai, East Kazakhstan and Pavlodar regions, as well as the capital, Astana, have joined firefighters already working at the scene. Personnel from the Semey Ormany reserve and the Ertis Ormany forestry have also been deployed to strengthen efforts to contain the fire.

Preliminary estimates put the affected area at around 60 hectares. The ministry said firefighting aircraft had carried out 81 water drops, releasing a total of 89 tonnes of water over the burning forest.

Authorities said 233 people had been evacuated as a precaution. Those moved to safety included 164 children and 19 staff members from the DosbolLike children's camp, along with 49 residents living on the outskirts of the village of Kamyshenka.

Police have cordoned off the affected area, closed access roads and ensured emergency vehicles can reach the scene without obstruction.

Officials at the Semey Ormany reserve said efforts to contain and extinguish the wildfire were continuing and that the situation remained under control.

By Aghakazim Guliyev