By PC Bureau
Forty-two passengers are feared dead in an crash in the Kazakhstani city of Aktau when the city was waking up from Christian revelry.
Kazakhstan’s emergency ministry confirmed in a Telegram statement Wednesday that 67 people, including five crew, were on board the plane. It added that 25 of them have survived the crash, according to preliminary assessment, and 22 survivors have been hospitalized.
Azerbaijani airliner
made an emergency landing at Aktau airport, according to Azerbaijan Airlines.
The Embraer 190 aircraft of the Azerbaijan Airlines flight, initially en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, was rerouted due to heavy fog. It ultimately crashed near the airport in the city of Aktau, located in western Kazakhstan.
Emergency services found the aircraft engulfed in flames upon arrival and immediately began firefighting efforts. “Currently, information about the victims is being clarified, and preliminary reports indicate there are survivors,” the Ministry of Emergency Situations stated.
Azerbaijan Airlines has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident.
Aktau, situated on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea in western Kazakhstan, is a city known for its unique urban planning and significant economic contributions. As of 2022, it has a population of approximately 209,776 residents, comprising a diverse mix of ethnic groups, including Kazakhs, Russians, Koreans, Ukrainians, Tatars, and Azerbaijanis.
In 1950s, Aktau was initially developed to support the uranium mining industry. Today, it serves as the capital of the Mangystau Region and functions as a vital port city on the Caspian Sea, playing a crucial role in Kazakhstan’s oil and gas sector.
A distinctive feature of Aktau is its address system, which lacks traditional street names. Instead, the city is divided into numbered microdistricts, with addresses typically comprising the microdistrict number, building, and apartment numbers.
Aktau’s coastal location offers residents and visitors access to the Caspian Sea’s beaches, contributing to its appeal as a destination for both business and leisure. The city’s infrastructure and amenities reflect its status as an economic hub, with ongoing developments aimed at enhancing its role in regional trade and tourism.
