On Thursday, Kazakhstan confirmed a fire at dawn in Almaty, claiming the lives of at least 13 individuals in a hostel. Officials suspect the victims suffocated in the building’s basement and have initiated a criminal investigation.
Reports from local media indicated that the fire originated in the basement of a recently converted three-story building into a hostel, which was in need of repairs.
The Almaty city emergency situations department stated, “Thirteen deceased individuals have been discovered, and efforts are underway to identify them.” Preliminary findings suggest they perished due to carbon monoxide inhalation.
The fire erupted in the heart of the former capital around 5:30 am (2330 GMT), with firefighters arriving seven minutes later to find the residential building’s basement ablaze, as per the official statement.