Over the course of two days on February 22-23, 2025, due to deteriorating weather conditions, blizzards, ice, strong winds, and zero visibility, the Ministry of Emergency Situations rescued and evacuated 380 people, including 49 children. It also removed more than 50 vehicles from the snowdrift. 153 sorties were made to conduct emergency rescue and search and rescue operations.

  Storm warnings about deteriorating weather conditions and notifications about road closures were delivered to the population via SMS messages, the Ministry of Emergency Situations' Internet resources, and social networks.

  It is worth noting the following rescue operations:

  About 170 people were rescued in Kostanay region

  On February 22, assistance was provided to foreign citizens during the day. Near the village of Kairak in the Karabalyk district, rescuers helped passengers of a bus traveling from the Republic of Tajikistan to Russia. There were 70 passengers on the bus, including 4 children. Due to a technical malfunction, the diesel fuel froze, and the vehicle could not move. Rescuers arrived at the scene together with the ZAO. Using a heater, they heated the fuel and charged the battery, after which the bus continued moving.

  Also, on the night of February 23, in the Amangeldy district, 22 kilometers from the village of Amantogai, on a closed section of the Auliekol-Zhaldama highway, the Emergencies Ministry forces rescued 98 people, including 18 children. 7 rescued people, including 6 children, were taken to the heating point in the village of Amantogai. Also, 8 passenger cars were towed from a snowdrift to a cleared section of the road. In the Sarykol district, 5 kilometers from the village of Sonaly, a passenger car with 2 people on board was towed from a snowdrift to a cleared section of the road on the Sarykol-Komsomolskoye highway.

  Foreign citizens rescued in Aktobe region

  On February 22, rescuers also evacuated 39 people at dawn. The 112 dispatcher received a message about a bus on a closed road several kilometers from the Aiteke-bi district of the Aktobe region. Rescuers who immediately went to the scene of the call determined that there were 39 passengers on the bus. Rescuers  evacuated them to the village of Karabutak.

  On February 23, the 112 control room of Aktobe region received a message that a truck had stopped due to a breakdown on a closed section of the highway 40 kilometers from the village of Badamsha in the Kargaly district and could not continue its movement. Rescuers who immediately went to the scene of the incident evacuated the frozen driver to the nearest heating station. A citizen of the Russian Federation expressed gratitude to the Kazakh rescuers.

  Military personnel of the Ministry of Emergency Situations also came to the aid of foreigners. During patrolling on the Samara-Shymkent highway in the Khromtau district of the Aktobe region, a car with 4 Tajik citizens was towed by the forces of the 20982nd military unit of the Ministry of Emergency Situations to the Sherkhan campsite in the city of Khromtau. As it turned out, their vehicles broke down and could not continue their movement. Foreign citizens expressed their gratitude.

  In addition, the Ministry of Emergency Situations SUV helped transport the injured person. The 112 dispatcher received a message that a man born in 1958 in Alga, Aktobe region, needed to be transported to a medical facility for surgery. Since the road was closed, it was decided to leave with the ambulance crew in the Trackol SUV.  Overcoming the difficult part of the road with a high-traffic vehicle, rescuers urgently transported the person to the city of Aktobe and handed him over to the emergency services for further hospitalization in the regional hospital.

  Due to the worsening weather conditions this night, several vehicles got stuck in snow on the Samara-Shymkent and Aktobe-Atyrau-Astrakhan highways of republican significance. Rescuers evacuated 21 people, including 5 children, to the heating station and nearby settlements. They also rescued 4 people from a car stuck in the snow.

  In addition, rescue operations were carried out in Atyrau, Akmola, West Kazakhstan, North Kazakhstan, and Zhetysu regions to rescue residents and remove equipment from snowdrifts.

  The Emergency Situations Department patrolled difficult snowy sections of highways with high-mobility equipment for people and vehicles stuck in traffic jams. Rescuers continue to work around the clock, providing assistance to the population and ensuring safety on highways.

  The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan urges citizens to take precautions, follow storm warnings, and avoid long trips in adverse weather conditions. Rural residents are advised to refrain from long walks in case of worsening weather conditions.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/emer/press/news/details/944253