On January 20, 2025, the Central Communications Service under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan held a press conference on "Emergency rescue operations of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in winter and measures taken." The speaker was Deputy Head of the Emergency Response Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aslan Uakishev.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations carried out a set of organizational and practical measures to prepare for the winter period. In order to assess the readiness of management bodies, forces and means of civil protection services to respond to emergencies in the winter period, from November 21 to November 22, 2024, the Kys - 2024 RCSHU was conducted with the headquarters of the leadership from the city of Kokshetau, Akmola region.
Based on the analysis of emergency situations in previous years, the main focus was on working out actions for possible accidents on water supply, heating, power supply systems, as well as congestion on highways. The operational groups of the regions have worked out introductory exercises based on local climatic features.
In order to promptly respond to emergencies in the winter period of 2024-2025, the order of the Ministry of Emergency Situations approved the grouping of forces and means of 37.4 thousand people and 13.6 thousand units of equipment, and defined the tasks of central state and local executive bodies.
According to the Ministry of Transport, 1,437 units of snow removal equipment have been put on standby, 174 units of new road maintenance equipment have been purchased, and 241 additional units of road cleaning equipment have been leased.
1,548 heating points have been prepared for injured people on the roads in winter.
Since the beginning of winter, storm warnings have been issued 1,300 times, and highways of national and regional significance have been closed 390 times.
More than 1,468 people were rescued and evacuated, including 149 children, and about 208 pieces of equipment were rescued from snowdrifts.
The issues of informing the population about the threats of emergencies, worsening weather conditions, the closure of roads in the republic and other emergency messages are under special control. So, in order to warn the population, about 1,800 thousand SMS messages were sent about the deterioration of weather conditions. 1,700,000 warning notifications were sent through the Darmen mobile application. Over 70 times, tele- and radio interception of channels has been carried out to deliver emergency information.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations reminds citizens of recommendations in winter:
Before planning trips outside the locality, it is necessary to study the weather forecast for the upcoming route.
Specify which roads may be closed to traffic. Information can be viewed on the website of NC Kazavtozhol with a detailed map of the closed areas, or specified by calling the unified telephone number 1403, or by calling the rescue service 112, as well as using the Darmen mobile application;
When you receive an official storm warning from the 112 service, refrain from traveling or leaving populated areas.
If there is an urgent need to get to any locality, use rail transport, this significantly increases the chances of avoiding snow jams and accidents.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations reminded how to prepare a personal car for winter in advance
Equip the car with additional, but extremely necessary luggage, which will allow you to survive in an emergency situation.:
- a canister (at least 20 liters) with a fuel reserve and a funnel for refueling;
- awning or car cover, at least 4*3m in size (preferably bright in color, which will make your car visible at a great distance. With it, you can hide the car from the snow and create a small living space nearby);
- trench tools (a shovel is required, an axe and a hacksaw);
- tow rope;
- a thermos of tea and a stock of products (which do not require cooking - stew, canned food, smoked sausages, 10-15 liters of water, tea bags, sugar, biscuits, etc.);
- a gas burner or blowtorch;
- a flashlight and spare batteries for it;
- GPS navigator (if not available, you can use a smartphone);
- a spare set of warm clothes.
The most important thing is that the car is in good technical condition.
Tips from rescuers: if a blizzard is caught on the road and visibility is deteriorating
If you are caught in a blizzard on the road and visibility is deteriorating, you must:
1. Turn on the fog lights, as well as the alarm.
2. The speed should be gradually reduced to ensure maximum safe braking in case of obstacles. Keep your distance in front of the car in front and avoid overtaking maneuvers.
3. During a snowstorm, blizzard, or in conditions of limited visibility, it is best to get to the nearest safe place (gas station, cafe, tire repair center, camping).
You should not stop right on the side of the road.
4. If you can't move and you realize that you can't get out without help, don't panic, immediately call the emergency numbers 112 or 102.
In the event that the emergency services have decided to escort vehicles in convoys.:
- follow the rules of the road;
- observe the speed limit set by the accompanying emergency services;
- move strictly in a column, keep only behind the car that was followed from the checkpoint.;
- keep a distance from the car in front, allowing you to apply timely;
- do not overtake the cars ahead;
- monitor the environment.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/emer/press/news/details/920849