The cause of a fire at the Korkem-3 residential complex in Astana that claimed the lives of three children has been established. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the blaze was sparked by child's play. The criminal case has been closed due to the absence of a criminal offense. This was announced by Ruslan Kairakbayev, deputy chairman of the Emergency Situations Ministry's Fire Service Committee, according to infohub.kz.
"The cause of the fire was child's play. The fire came from inside," Kairakbayev said, specifying that the seat of the fire was inside the apartment. The investigation's findings became known nearly six months after the tragedy.
Recall that the fire broke out at night on April 12 in a 15th-floor apartment of a 21-story building on Turkestan Street. Rescuers found the bodies of three children inside. Their mother was saved — the woman was hospitalized with burns. Twenty people were evacuated from the upper floors, and about 40 more residents left the building on their own. Police opened a criminal case into the children's deaths.
The Emergency Situations Department reported that the entrance to the courtyard was closed by metal gates, and the area was cluttered with cars. The front door of the apartment where the fire occurred had to be opened with special tools: it was secured with a metal structure and two locks.
Later, police held two drivers accountable whose cars had blocked the passage of fire equipment. Initially, a Hyundai Elantra driver was reported, but an additional check showed that the ramp was blocked from both sides. A Toyota Camry driver was also punished for violating stopping and parking rules.
On April 23, the Astana health department provided an update on the mother's condition: she continued to receive intensive care in the ICU. At that time, doctors noted positive dynamics.
On June 2, Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations Yerbolat Sadyrbayev was unable to name the cause of the fire. He denied reports that a ladder unsuitable for the building's height had arrived and stated that the fire crew arrived within seven minutes, and the necessary equipment was on site.