Semey Ormany Branch Head to Be Held Accountable for Fire

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has stated that officials who failed to follow emergency protocols are responsible for the recent forest fires in the Pavlodar and Abay regions, Orda.kz reports.

In response to questions from journalists, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nysanbayev addressed whether anyone would be held accountable.

He pointed to recent leadership changes at the Semey Ormany enterprise as a significant factor, particularly in the Morozovsky district, where he noted a significant delay in relaying information about the fire.

Together with the Ministry of Emergency Situations, we have fully investigated this situation. We have just completed this work and we will now take appropriate measures against the responsible persons who failed to promptly notify about the fire in the Morozovsky District. The head of the Morozovsky branch should have reported (notified about the fire  - Ed.), Nysanbayev stated at a press conference in the government. 

He explained that information should flow through a strict vertical chain: from the scene to the Semey Ormany control center, regional emergency services, the ministry, and finally to the national coordination center, where all relevant agencies are on duty 24/7.

So far, wildfires have affected around 900 hectares in the region — 400 hectares in forested zones, including 200 hectares of crown fires.

This is the first fire this year. Apparently, people have eased up. This fact has been fully investigated, we will take measures.

In Bayanaul, geography played a role in the delayed response:

It's just a hard-to-reach place. The fire was low-level, the grass was burned, the bushes were damaged. 

Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova