Kazakhstan mobilises ministers, aircraft to tackle Abai forest blaze, evacuates 220 UPDATED

A major wildfire continues to burn through the Semey Ormany state forest nature reserve in Kazakhstan's Abai Region, prompting Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov to dispatch the country's emergency situations minister and ecology minister to the scene, Orda.kz reported.

The blaze broke out in the Borodulikha branch of the Semey Ormany reserve. Firefighting efforts involve personnel from the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES), forestry services, police, and aircraft operated by the MES, the Ministry of Defence and the National Security Committee.

According to the MES, emergency responders, police and local authorities carried out a precautionary evacuation of the Dos-bolLike children's summer camp due to the risk of the fire spreading. A total of 220 people — including 190 children and 30 staff members — were evacuated to the city of Semey. Officials said the nearby village of Kamyshenka is no longer under threat.

Preliminary estimates indicate that the fire has spread across around 60 hectares of forest.

Approximately 600 personnel, 148 ground vehicles and seven helicopters have been deployed to tackle the blaze. Aerial crews have carried out 81 water drops, releasing a total of 89 tonnes of water.

Additional emergency response units have arrived from the Abai, East Kazakhstan and Pavlodar regions, as well as from Astana, to reinforce firefighting efforts. Personnel from the Ertis Ormany forestry service and an MES military unit have also joined the operation.

Police have sealed off access to the affected area, ensuring emergency vehicles can reach the site while protecting residents' property. An MES operational headquarters is coordinating the multi-agency response as crews continue efforts to contain the wildfire from both the ground and the air.

15:05

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