2023 Kazakhstan wildfires | |
---|---|
Date(s) | June 2023 |
Location | Northeastern Kazakhstan |
Statistics | |
Burned area | 60,000 hectares |
Impacts | |
Deaths | 15 |
Structures destroyed | 3 |
Ignition | |
Cause | Lightning, arson |
In June 2023, large forest fires broke out in the northeastern regions of Kazakhstan experienced its greatest annual death toll. While putting out the fires, at least 15 people died. [1] [2] [3]
According to local officials, lightning ignited the fires. A total of 60,000 hectares of land were lost. Residents of several villages were evacuated [4] [5]
On 10 June 2023, more than 1,000 emergency personnel battled an out-of-control fire. Yuri Ilyin, the Minister of Emergency Situations, was fired by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev earlier that day. The condolences of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and other leaders have been extended to Tokayev. [4] [6] [7]
The day of national mourning, 12 June, was established by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in memory of the forest workers who perished while battling wildfires in Kazakhstan's eastern Abai Region. [8] The investigation is yet to be concluded; former Minister of Emergency Situations Yuri Ilyin, Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources Zülfia Süleimenova, Äkim of Abai Region Nūrlan Ūranhaev and former Äkim of East Kazakhstan Region Daniyal Ahmetov are to be questioned regarding the wildfire [9]
Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly Tokayev is a Kazakh politician and diplomat who has served as the President of Kazakhstan since 2019. Between 20 March and 12 June 2019, he served as acting president after the resignation of Nursultan Nazarbayev, who had been president for nearly three decades.
Asqar Uzaqbaiuly Mamin is a Kazakh politician and economist who served as the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan from 2019 to 2022, resigning due to pressure from the 2022 Kazakh unrest. He served as First Deputy Prime Minister from 9 September 2016 to 21 February 2019. Previously, he was the president of the Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, the national railway company of Kazakhstan. He also serves as the president of the Kazakhstan Ice Hockey Federation, a position he assumed in 2008.
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Yuriy Viktorovich Ilyin is a Kazakhstani politician and Lieutenant General who has served as Minister of Emergency Situations since 11 September 2020 to 10 June 2023.
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Events of 2022 in Kazakhstan.
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