Kazakhstan president declares June 12 a day of national mourning

According to the presidential press service, President of Kazakhstan Hasmut Dzhomart Tokaev declared June 12 as a day of national mourning during a meeting with the families and relatives of rangers who died in the fight against the Semey fire.

President Tokayev said that on June 12 the whole country will mourn the 14 rangers who died in the line of duty.

He stressed that all those responsible for the tragedy will be held accountable under the law, while the relevant authorities will carry out effective measures to combat the forest fires and eliminate the consequences of the natural disaster.

As previously reported, all 14 rangers involved in the fight against the forest fire were killed in the line of duty.

It is reported that President Tokayev arrived in the city of Semey by special plane in the morning of the 11th and began his work inspection of Abai region.

In the afternoon of the same day, the president took a helicopter aerial inspection of the forest fire affected areas in Semey.