On 13 September in Kazakhstan, according to official data from the Ministry of Ecology, there were five forest fires. The FBK editorial team checked the NASA FIRMS satellite monitoring data and counted at least 13 large fire hotspots on the same day - predominantly steppe fires, with a total area of approximately 2870 ha (28.7 square kilometres). Most of the fires were recorded in Karaganda Region - four hotspots in three districts at once.
WHERE IT BURNED THE MOST
According to NASA FIRMS (NASA Fire Information for Resource Management System), the largest hotspot is detected in Shet District of Karaganda Region. There, the satellites showed two fire points at once, with areas of 815.68 ha (8.16 sq km) and 414.47 ha (4.14 sq km). In total, that is more than 12 square kilometres in a single district in a single day.
Large hotspots also emerged in Kostanay Region - in Karasu District, around 294.7 ha (2.95 sq km) burned, and in Pavlodar Region, where the fire swept through the steppe zone to the west of the boundaries of the Yertis Ormany State Forest Nature Reserve, on the right bank of the Irtysh - 265.26 ha (2.65 sq km).
WHAT BURNED IN THE SOUTH AND WEST OF THE COUNTRY
In Aktobe Region, in Aiteke Bi District, approximately 20 km from the village of Temirbek Zhurgenov, the fire covered approximately 234.59 ha (2.35 sq km). In Turkistan Region, in Kazygurt District, the fire area was 107.71 ha (1.08 sq km).
Three hotspots at once were recorded in Zhambyl Region: near the city of Taraz, 69.94 ha (0.7 sq km) burned, in Korday District - 154.49 ha (1.54 sq km), and another fire in the same district, on the border with Ili District of Almaty Region, covered 80.05 ha (0.8 sq km).
THE EAST AND CENTRE OF THE COUNTRY
In Abai Region, in Ayagoz District, the fire area was 98.64 ha (0.98 sq km). In East Kazakhstan Region (EKR), in Kokpekti District - 57.37 ha (0.57 sq km). In Karaganda Region, fires burned in two more places besides Shet District: in Karkaraly District - 108.95 ha (1.09 sq km), and in Bukhar-Zhyrau District, not far from the city of Abai - 169.46 ha (1.69 sq km).
WHAT THIS MEANS
Recall that earlier it was reported that on 13 September, five forest fires were registered on the territory of Kazakhstan's state forest fund.
However, these data do not reflect all natural fires in a 24-hour period. That is, the actual scale of natural fires in the country may be substantially greater than officially stated.
