Kazakhstan mourns victims of wildfire in Abai region. National mourning has been declared
Under the edict of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, today, June 12, is a day of national mourning in Kazakhstan.
The main flag on a 50-meter-high flagpole on the square of national symbols in the capital city of Astana has been lowered. It is going to remain this way until June 13.
Tokayev declared national mourning for firefighters who died near the town of Semey while he was meeting with their families on June 11. The president has ordered the cabinet to ensure that the families of the fallen heroes receive all the necessary assistance, including material aid. He also promised that the government will pay these families special benefits. To deliver this promise a special fund must be created under the supervision of the president.
In Kazakhstan, nationwide mourning might be declared to commemorate those who died in major terrorist attacks or because of any other large-scale tragic events, as well as in the event of the death of high-ranking government officials. The president is the only person who can declare mourning in the country. Usually, mourning lasts one to several days.
On the day of national mourning, flags must be lowered on buildings of state agencies, local administrations and diplomatic missions abroad. Moreover, entertainment events as well as TV and radio broadcasting should be canceled.
Over the past 30 years of independence, Kazakhstan declared national mourning on 11 occasions, including mourning for victims of the Bek Air crash, the COVID-19 pandemic, the military arsenal explosion in Taraz and the January unrest, all declared by the current president. The mourning for the firefighters in the Abai region is the fifth mourning declared by Tokayev.
Wildfire in the Abay region
Fourteen people died because of the wildfire in the Semey Ormany reserve in the Abay region. The Ministry of Ecology of the Republic of Kazakhstan has published the names and photographs of these people. The first reports from the area mentioned three fatal cases while eleven people were considered missing. On June 10, the Ministry of Emergency reported that all 11 forestry employees were dead. On June 11, the president signed a decree that awards all dead forestry personnel with the Kurmet decoration.
The first reports about the wildfire in Semey Ormany came on June 8. Residents of the endangered area were immediately evacuated. These reports said that the wildfire took just three hectares of the land. However, the fire swiftly escalated and covered about 100 hectares. It turned out that local authorities responsible for dealing with the fire had incorrectly assessed the situation. As a result, Tokayev discharged Yuri Ilyin, former minister of emergency. He had served in this position for almost three years. The new minister is now Syrym Sharipkhanov, who previously held the position of head of the Academy of Civil Protection named after M. Gabdullin under the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan.
Tokayev severely criticized the work of the ministry and its former leadership. He also reprimanded Nurlan Urankhaev, governor of the Abai region. He even ordered the Office of the Prosecutor General to look into the actions of officials that may have led to the tragedy. The Office of the Prosecutor General has already opened a criminal case as several officials are under suspicion of negligence. At the same time, law enforcement officials have also opened a pre-trial investigation under article 292 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan «Violation of fire safety requirements, resulting in the death of two or more persons through negligence.»
