Aviation has dropped more than 100 tons of water to extinguish a large forest fire in the Semey Ormany state forest reserve in the Abai region. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

By order of Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Emergency Situations Minister Chingis Arinov and Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nysanbayev traveled to the Abai region. They are coordinating firefighting efforts on site.

According to the Ministry of Ecology, more than 400 people and about 100 pieces of equipment were involved in the firefighting. Seven helicopters dropped a total of over 100 tons of water.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that the force group was increased to 600 people, 148 ground vehicles, and seven helicopters. Units from the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Defense, National Security Committee, and local executive bodies were involved.

According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, thanks to the joint work of all services, the nearest settlement was protected.

"Thanks to the coordinated actions of all involved services, the threat to the village of Kamychenka has been lifted. Work continues to localize and eliminate the fire, with aerial and ground firefighting underway," the ministry reported.

The government emphasized that the firefighting headquarters is under the personal control of the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, Kazhydromet warns that extreme fire danger persists in the Abai region. High and extreme risk of natural fires is also forecast in several other regions of Kazakhstan.

According to weather forecasters, high fire danger is expected in Mangystau, Zhambyl, Pavlodar, East Kazakhstan regions, Ulytau, Abai, Zhetysu regions, in the west, east, south, and center of Almaty region, in the southeast of North Kazakhstan region, in the southeast and northeast of Atyrau region, in the west of West Kazakhstan region, in the west, east, and center of Aktobe region, in the south and east of Karaganda region, in the east and center of Kostanay region, and in the west, south, and east of Akmola region.

"Extreme fire danger is expected in Kyzylorda, Turkestan regions, in the north, south, and east of Zhetysu region, in the north and south of Abai region, in the west and north of Zhambyl region, Karaganda region, in the north of Almaty region, in the southeast of Pavlodar region, in the northwest, southeast, and center of East Kazakhstan region, in the south of Kostanay region, in the south and east of Aktobe region, and in the northwest of Atyrau region," Kazhydromet said.

Rescuers urge residents not to light fires, not to throw unextinguished cigarette butts, and to follow fire safety measures.

Today, July 16, emergency services were mobilized in the Borodulikha district of the Abai region. A large forest fire broke out on the territory of a branch of the Semey Ormany state forest nature reserve. Due to the high fire danger in the region, significant forces and aviation were promptly involved.

Semey Ormany was already the site of one of the worst forest tragedies in Kazakhstan's history. In June 2023, a massive fire there killed 15 forestry workers.

Three years later, in early June 2026, during a government briefing, journalists asked Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Nurken Sharbiyev what measures had been taken after the tragedy to prevent such fires, update firefighting equipment, and raise salaries for forestry workers.