Almaty residents urged not to panic over helicopters and “burning” building

Tengrinews.kz - Videos began circulating on social media with alarming messages about a “special operation to detain robbers” in Almaty.

However, the Department of Emergency Situations (DES) informed Almaty residents that on July 1, fire-tactical drills were being held on the territory of the Orion III residential complex, located at 11/2 Al-Farabi Avenue, with observers from the Russian and Belarusian emergency ministries.

“The event is being conducted within the framework of implementing the decisions of the 2024 joint board meeting of the emergency ministries of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia. We ask residents and guests of the city to remain calm — this is a planned international exercise aimed at improving the readiness of emergency services,” the statement said.

Participating in the drills were:

• aviation from Kazaviaspas JSC (part of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations)
• basic and specialized firefighting equipment
• rescuers from the Republican Operational-Rescue Unit (ROSO)
• the medical service of the Disaster Medicine Center (part of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations)
• cooperating agencies
• volunteers

For reference, on June 27, residents of Almaty also witnessed the extinguishing of a “fire” near the Nurly Tau business center.