Kazakhstan's capital has stepped up efforts to prevent fires in high-rise buildings. Since the beginning of the year, inspections have covered 141 multi-apartment residential complexes, according to infohub.kz.
Gabit Babayev, deputy head of the State Fire Control Department of the Emergency Situations Department, said that Astana has a total of 1,138 multi-apartment buildings of increased height — those over 28 meters or 10 stories and above.
The reason for the intensified inspections was an increase in the number of fires: since the start of 2026, there have been 52 fires in the capital's high-rises. The situation became more acute after a tragic fire in April at the Korkem-3 residential complex, where three children died due to a blocked entrance to the courtyard.
Among the most common violations, Babayev cited cluttered evacuation routes, faulty or improperly maintained fire protection systems, missing or malfunctioning primary fire extinguishing equipment, and parking vehicles near building entrances, which hinders the passage of fire trucks.
Special attention is paid to ensuring unimpeded access for emergency vehicles to courtyards. During raids, illegally installed concrete blocks, bollards, chains, and other barriers, as well as cars parked in violation of requirements, are identified.
"The Emergency Situations Department urges residents not to install barriers on their own in common areas and not to leave cars in a way that blocks fire truck access. In case of a fire, every minute counts. Even a few meters blocked by a car or barrier can significantly hamper the work of fire and rescue units. Work to improve fire safety in multi-apartment residential buildings continues. The main task is not only to identify violations but also to ensure their actual elimination, preventing conditions that could lead to death or injury," the spokesman concluded.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that in Atyrau, 20 people were rescued and evacuated from a burning building.