Two men who went missing while paddleboarding in the Akmola Region have been found safe, reports infohub.kz.
The incident occurred on the Astana Reservoir. The men, born in 2001 and 2002, were swept about 4 kilometers from shore by sudden gusty winds and high waves.
Rescuers from the Emergency Situations Department of the Akmola Region and the city of Astana immediately launched a search. The operation lasted about four hours. In the early hours of the night, the missing men were found in the reeds. It turned out they had fallen asleep and did not hear the rescuers' signals.
The men were brought to shore and did not require medical assistance. However, they were held administratively liable for violating water safety regulations under Article 412 of the Administrative Code of Kazakhstan.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations reminded that before going on the water, one should consider weather conditions and forecasts, pay attention to wind strength and wave height, and avoid going out in adverse weather.