Helios pays over $1.7 million in damages after Almaty petrol truck accident

Helios company has paid the total of over $1.2 million to compensate the damages caused by its petrol truck accident in Almaty, $900 thousand of them were paid in compensations, Tengrinews reports citing Almaty Akim (Mayor) Akhmetzhan Yessimov as saying during inspection of the residential building at the crossing of Seifullin and Kabanbai Batyr streets that was damaged by the petrol flare. “The works have been completed and the building’s facing has been repaired. The repairs are over in all the apartments repaired by Helios. Monetary compensations have been paid to the residents who chose to repair their apartments themselves. All the issues related to heating and electricity have been solved. As for the burnt cars, Helios has paid the compensations. Financial aid was rendered to the family of the truck’s driver, his wife has been employed by Helios. Talks with the insurance company are currently underway for it to make insurance payments to the driver’s children when they reach the lawful age. "I am pleased that the works were performed quickly and within the set deadlines and so are the residents,” Yessimov said. Almaty Akim visited the building, checked on its facing and inspected several apartments. He said that Helios spent the total of over $900 thousand. The people whose apartments were damaged by the accident said that they had started moving back into their apartments after the repairs and were in general pleased with their quality. The Zlydenkos family said that their 3-bedroom apartment was burnt to ashes and was restored in three months. They are currently moving back into the apartment. The investigation into the petrol truck accident is still underway. The case may be transferred to court in October 2013 for further investigation, first deputy Akim of Almaty Yuriy Ilyin said at the press-conference. Ilyin and Director General of Helios Konstantin Sviridov stressed that the information distributed by Almaty Interior Department’s press-service that there was something wrong with the truck was only a preliminary report. No official expert statement have been made yet. “We will know more once the investigation is complete and the case is transferred to court. The organization that made the technical check of the vehicle is also involved in the investigation and is also an object of close scrutiny,” Ilyin said. Besides, Ilyin reminded that the truck’s driver Aleksander Goryunov would receive a postmortem award. According to Ilyin, his family will get the award by the Independence Day on December 16. Sviridov added that the promised monument on Gryunov’s tomb will be installed in March 2014 after the ground settles. Sviridov said that the company spent a total of over $1.7 million to compensate the damages. Over $900 thousand was spent on compensations and the rest were used to make the repair and restoration works. According to the company, the accident damaged 60 facilities: 54 apartments and 6 commercial facilities. Partial repairs were made in 25 apartments. Owners of 23 apartments and 6 commercial facilities chose to make the repairs themselves and received compensations. The petrol tank lorry flared up near Rixos Hotel in Almaty at the crossing of Seifullin and Kabanbay Batyr streets after crashing into an offroader on June 27. The truck’s driver died at the accident site because his door got jammed and he could not get out of the truck before the petrol inflamed. The fire moved over to the RealSport sports shop, and #138 Kabanbay Batyr residential building. According to the rescuers, 40 people were evacuated from the building. The 27-y.o. truck driver died on the spot. No other casualties were reported. By Assemgul Kassenova