A major fire in Taraz has left 10 families homeless — the blaze destroyed two apartments and part of the roof of a barrack-type building, reports infohub.kz.
The fire broke out several days ago. According to residents, flames erupted in one of the apartments and then spread to the roof. It took about an hour and a half to extinguish the fire, with 30 rescuers involved in the operation.
The total area of the fire was around 250 square meters. Two apartments burned out completely, while other rooms sustained damage. Residents are now trying to salvage surviving belongings, but some apartments were flooded during firefighting efforts.
"Water is still flowing, it's still running. The stretch ceiling is completely filled with water. The back room is also flooded. All the blankets and mattresses are wet. Here, we're laying everything out to dry," said Sabira Koldasova, a resident of the building.
Thirty people, including five children, have been left without housing. Some of the fire victims are staying with relatives, while others have been temporarily placed in special centers. Several people have set up sleeping places near the burned-out building.
"We're living in a tent. Those who have relatives are staying with them. No one is cooking food here right now. There are no utilities. There's no help at all," said Akhmetzhan Zhamalbekov.
People fear the approaching cold weather and are asking local authorities for housing assistance. Taraz Akim Bakytzhan Orynbekov visited the fire site. According to him, a decision on compensation will be made after receiving the conclusion from the emergency situations department.
"Within two days, the investigative actions will be fully completed, and we will be provided with the results. Based on them, we will determine the amount of compensation. Until we have that conclusion in hand, we cannot do anything," said Taraz Akim Bakytzhan Orynbekov.
A special commission is determining the cause of the fire and calculating the damage caused to residents. Fire victims may receive a one-time payment from the budget — its maximum amount will be around 1.3 million tenge.