Lightning strike caused major wildfire in Abai region - General Prosecutor’s Office

 The General Prosecutor’s Office concluded its criminal investigation into the major wildfire in the Semey Ormany nature reserve in Abai region, Kazakhstan, killing 14 people, Kazinform News Agency reports. 

The investigation revealed that the cause of the fire was a lightning strike setting forest cover leading to the major wildfire in the region, said the General Prosecutor’s Office in a statement.

This version is backed by opinions of experts and specialists, photo and video footages, witness statements, and other materials, it was added.

According to the General Prosecutor’s Office, the leadership of the Semey Ormany reserve and its Novoshulbinskiy branch failed to organize fire suppression works, assess the situation, and ensure the observance of safety precautions in fire fighting leading to deaths of 14 people.

A major wildfire occurred in the Batpaevskiy forestry of the state forest nature reserve Semey Ormany in Abai region on June 8. The fire encompassed the area of over 60 thousand hectares. 14 workers of the Novoshulbinskiy branch of Semey Ormany reserve died.