Officials from Ministry of Ecology and the Ministry of Emergency Situations Punished for 2023 Semey Ormany Fire

cover

The Prosecutor General's Office has concluded its investigation into the 2023 Abay region forest fire, one of Kazakhstan's worst environmental disasters that claimed 15 lives and destroyed thousands of hectares of forest, reports Orda.kz.

The case resulted in several prison sentences.

The reserve's general director and its Novoshulbinsky branch director each received seven years for violating fire safety regulations that led to the deaths. 

The reserve's IT department head and Kazakhstan's Forest Aviation Protection Base director were each sentenced to two years for negligence. Additionally, ten Ecology and Emergency Situations Ministry officials faced disciplinary liability.

The government has enhanced social protection measures for forestry and environmental protection workers in response to the tragedy.

While efforts are underway to restore the 66,000 hectares of damaged forest in the Semey Ormany reserve using Swedish pine-growing equipment, authorities continue to battle illegal logging in the area.

Original Author: Zarina Fayzulina

Latest news

view all