Uralsk was covered in thick smoke and ash this afternoon, leaving residents complaining of a terrible smell and difficulty breathing, reports Orda.kz. Follow the news on infohub.kz.
The fire is raging in a forest area near Khanskaya Grove. Helicopters have been deployed to fight the blaze, according to the publication My City.
Smoke has spread to the city center and the settlement of Zachagansk, with ash falling from the sky.
"When I looked out the window, I first thought it was clouds, but then I smelled smoke. Ash started settling on the balcony. It's very scary, especially given the heat and strong wind today," the publication quotes a local resident.
Since last week, the West Kazakhstan Region has been experiencing intense heat. In Uralsk, temperatures have reached +38...+40 degrees Celsius with strong morning winds.
On July 27, Kazakhstan recorded five forest fires: two in Akmola Region, two in West Kazakhstan Region, and one in East Kazakhstan Region. Firefighting efforts in West Kazakhstan Region involved forestry departments, state forest protection, and emergency services. The other fires have been extinguished. Earlier, a large forest fire in the Abai Region took several days to put out.