Investigation underway after explosions in Zhambyl region

9 people were killed, several went missing in at least ten explosions at a military warehouse in Zhambyl region. The area of dispersion of fragments was up to three kilometers. For this reason, 220 residents of three nearby villages were urgently evacuated. Now the fire is localized, but the remnants are smoldering. The warehouse mainly stored engineering ammunition.

“The fire brigades of the military unit, consisting of three crews, immediately began localizing the fire. The duty officer of the military unit notified the operational duty officer of the department in charge of the regional command “South”. 500 people were involved in localizing the fire at the first stage, then their number was increased to 1,000. 24 fire engines of the Ministry of Defense and Emergency Situations are also involved,” said Nurlan Yermekbayev, Kazakh Minister of Defense.

As it is known, the fire completely engulfed the warehouse building. According to preliminary data, more than 500 tonnes of TNT were stored there. Residents near the epicenter of the fire were evacuated to the city of Taraz.

“There are three villages near the explosion site. The nearest village Kainar is located just 1 km away. The other two are 5 km away. 718 people live in these three villages. Yesterday they were all housed in other locations, that is, in 10 schools and dormitories of five colleges,” noted Berdibek Saparbayev, Governor of Zhambyl Region.

On August 26, at about 7 p.m., explosions occurred at the military warehouse near Taraz. A criminal case was initiated, an investigation is underway to establish the reasons and circumstances of the incident. Additional forces were mobilized from Almaty and Shymkent to extinguish the fire. The situation is now under control.

 

Translation by Saniya Sakenova

Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova