PHOTO: Dry wood on fire in Almaty's Botanic Garden

Dry wood caught fire in the Botanic Garden of Almaty, Tengrinews.kz reports from the accident site. Fire-fighters are having big difficulties accessing the site, because the approaches are blocked. According to a preliminary information, there are at least two ignition sources at the territory of the park. One of them has already been taken under control, but neither has been extinguished yet. According to representatives of Almaty Emergency Situations Department, the fire currently covers the area of 2 hectares. The information that there was a fire in the park was received at 1:23 p.m. on August 23. Four fire-fighting vehicles are involved in elimination of the fire. No casualties have been reported. Meanwhile, several media channels report that the fire started at the territory of Al-Farabi Kazakhstan National University. However, the university’s administration refutes this information. “We officially state that there was no fire or any other emergency situation at the territory of Al-Farabi Kazakhstan National University on August 23, 2012. The fire started in the Botanic Garden. Its territory does not belong to the university. All the university’s facilities are opearting normally,” the university’s press-service says. By Roza Yessenkulova