A state of emergency has been declared in Uralsk due to a fire at the city landfill that broke out on July 27. The decision was made by the city administration, according to infohub.kz.
Deputy Mayor of Uralsk Zhandos Duysengaliyev said the solid waste landfill caught fire at 2:30 p.m. on July 27. He attributed the blaze to an unusually hot day and strong winds. Firefighting efforts involved the regional emergency department, the administration of West Kazakhstan Region, and specialized equipment from all municipal utilities and construction companies.
On July 28, the city administration declared a local state of emergency. Duysengaliyev explained that this measure will ensure mobile refueling of equipment and catering for personnel. The emergency will remain in effect until the fire is fully contained. Currently, 40-50 units of equipment are deployed. The landfill spans 35 hectares; the fire affected 13 hectares. Three hectares have been extinguished, while about ten hectares are smoldering without open flames.
The landfill, opened in 1975, has been operating for over 50 years. The deputy mayor noted that efforts have been made in recent years to reclaim and close it, as the facility is completely outdated. Experts believe that underground gases have accumulated, and weather conditions could reignite the fire. 'We are now hauling soil from a quarry to cover the smoldering areas. A reclamation project was developed in 2024, and we are currently working on financing it. Without reclamation, this will continue,' he added.
Earlier, Uralsk residents had complained about heavy smoke in the city, according to the administration of West Kazakhstan Region.