After a fire broke out in a residential complex in Kazakhstan's capital, residents are unable to return to their apartments, having repeatedly complained about the condition of the building and its fire safety system, reports infohub.kz.
The blaze occurred several days ago. An electrical switchboard room on one of the floors caught fire, and the flames spread to other areas.
"About five or six apartments. Furniture burned, carpets, several apartments were damaged. It stinks in there, it's impossible to live there right now. For a day or two no one will even go in, because it's not just about washing — it needs airing out; it needs a full renovation," said Almira Zhainakpayeva, a resident of the capital.
Residents of the building were evacuated during the fire. Among those led out by rescuers in oxygen masks through a curtain of acrid smoke was a woman with an infant. According to neighbors, she hid on the balcony before firefighters arrived. Fortunately, neither the mother nor the baby was harmed.
Locals say they had complained repeatedly to the developer and local authorities about the poor condition of the building in general and the fire safety system in particular. While their appeals had previously been met with indifference, after the incident residents received serious attention. Now, they say, they have been promised not only to restore what the fire damaged but also to bring the entire residential complex up to standard. The district akim where the complex is located is reported to oversee the implementation of the plans.
"The situation is definitely under control. We will not leave residents in trouble, on their own. Together with the developer and the authorized bodies, we will keep the situation under control," said Maksat Samatuly, akim of the Saraishyk district.