Rescuers evacuate two foreign tourists from high altitude in mountains near Almaty

Tengrinews.kz — Emergency Ministry rescuers evacuated foreign tourists from an altitude of more than 3,500 metres. Two tourists from Russia requested assistance.
They were part of a group of eight people staying at the Toguzak monitoring station operated by the Emergency Ministry’s Kazselezashchita agency, at an altitude of 3,510 metres.

“Two members of the hiking group required medical assistance. A 25-year-old woman suffered a head injury after being struck by a falling rock, despite wearing a protective helmet. A 32-year-old man injured his arm in a fall, with a bruise or fracture suspected,” the Emergency Ministry said.


Rescuers were initially unable to use aircraft because of the difficult high-altitude terrain, dense fog, rain and flight-altitude restrictions. They therefore had to reach the tourists on foot through the Left Talgar Gorge.

“Towards morning, rescuers from the Emergency Ministry’s Barys national rapid-response rescue unit reached the monitoring station and examined the tourists. After weather conditions improved, the injured tourists were evacuated by a Kazaviaspas helicopter to the Medeu landing site, where they were met by a team from the Emergency Ministry’s Disaster Medicine Centre. They were then taken to a medical facility for further examination and treatment,” the ministry said.

According to rescuers, the foreign tourists’ lives and health are not at risk.