Witness's photo @akhmetbekova
New mosque Khazret Sultan in on fire in Astana, Tengrinews.kz reports. According to preliminary information about 30 vehicles and 171 people are involved in the firefighting operation there, but so far they have been unable to tackle the fire. There are also several ambulances near the mosque. According to the city’s firefighting service, this a class three fire. Class three means that the fire is of highest possible complexity. Almost all the available equipment is being used to etinuqish the fire, the firefighter’s press-service said. Traffic has been blocked in the area close to the fire. A lot of people has gathered around the site to watch. Minister of Emergency Situations Vladimir Bozhko has arrived to the site already. He said that wooden scaffolding below the dome have caught fire. "No casualties have been reported yet. Basemen floor has been checked, 13 people have been rescued from the are on fire. 32 vehicles are involved in the operation now. All the firefighting forces of the city are on high alert," Bozhko said. He said that most advance equipment is being used to fight the fire as well as a special firefighting division. "The situation is complicated because the dome itself is very high. Right now fireman are lifting the hoses and water cannons to the top along the walls. Because there is no fire on the floor level," the Minister said . He pointed out that the smoke has become grey. The area on fire makes about 300 square meters. "The reason of the fire outbreak is being identified. It was the welding works, most likely," Bozhko said. Construction of Khazret Sultan mosque started in Astana in October 2010. It is located at the area of 11 hectares (1.100 square meters), its buildings’ floor area makes 17.700 square meters. The mosque can hold up to 5000 people. It is the largest mosque in Central Asia. Its dome stands 51 meter tall, its diameter is 28.1 meters. The heist of each of its four minarets is 77 meters.
New mosque Khazret Sultan in on fire in Astana, Tengrinews.kz reports. According to preliminary information about 30 vehicles and 171 people are involved in the firefighting operation there, but so far they have been unable to tackle the fire. There are also several ambulances near the mosque.
According to the city’s firefighting service, this a class three fire. Class three means that the fire is of highest possible complexity. Almost all the available equipment is being used to etinuqish the fire, the firefighter’s press-service said.
Traffic has been blocked in the area close to the fire. A lot of people has gathered around the site to watch.
Minister of Emergency Situations Vladimir Bozhko has arrived to the site already. He said that wooden scaffolding below the dome have caught fire.
"No casualties have been reported yet. Basemen floor has been checked, 13 people have been rescued from the are on fire. 32 vehicles are involved in the operation now. All the firefighting forces of the city are on high alert," Bozhko said.
He said that most advance equipment is being used to fight the fire as well as a special firefighting division. "The situation is complicated because the dome itself is very high. Right now fireman are lifting the hoses and water cannons to the top along the walls. Because there is no fire on the floor level," the Minister said . He pointed out that the smoke has become grey.
The area on fire makes about 300 square meters. "The reason of the fire outbreak is being identified. It was the welding works, most likely," Bozhko said.
Construction of Khazret Sultan mosque started in Astana in October 2010. It is located at the area of 11 hectares (1.100 square meters), its buildings’ floor area makes 17.700 square meters. The mosque can hold up to 5000 people. It is the largest mosque in Central Asia. Its dome stands 51 meter tall, its diameter is 28.1 meters. The heist of each of its four minarets is 77 meters.