Residents of Uralsk reported heavy smoke in the city today, caused by a large fire in the famous Khan's Grove, according to the website infohub.kz.
A video posted on the Instagram account of the publication "My City" showed clouds of smoke and flying ash alarming residents. Eyewitnesses said ash was spreading across the area, making it hard to breathe. "I looked out the window, at first thought it was clouds, then I smelled smoke and saw ash settling on the balcony. It's very scary, especially given the heat and strong wind today," said Uralsk resident Alina.
In the evening, the Akimat of West Kazakhstan Region clarified the situation, reporting that the fire broke out in the forest park zone of Khan's Grove on the territory of the Uralsk Forestry. The fire area was 18 hectares, predominantly covered with maple and ash trees. Many resources were deployed to fight the fire, including a helicopter and personnel from the Ministry of Emergency Situations and forestry. At 8:28 p.m., the fire was contained.
"We managed to prevent further spread of the fire on the territory of this unique natural and historical site, despite the high air temperature and strong wind. Currently, work at the scene continues," the Akimat added.