Blast in central Almaty cafe kills two

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KAZAKHSTAN – An explosion on Dec. 3 at the cafe and bakery Rustem killed two women and wounded 32 people, three of them critically.

The blast occurred at 13:20 local time, during lunch breaks in the surrounding offices. After the explosion, 60 square metres were engulfed in flame. A 22-year-old woman died on the scene and another died in hospital.

The fire was extinguished after two and a half hours, during which time one of the liveliest streets in Almaty was closed and residents were evacuated from surrounding buildings.

A commission has been formed to investigate the cause of the explosion. It is known that gas from 50-litre gas tanks in the basement of the cafe detonated, but according to Emergency Situations Department director Damir Khalikov the tanks themselves did not explode. “It could be that someone purposely caused the explosion by turning on the gas. The investigation will answer that question,” he said.

A search is underway for cafe owner Hasan Taneri and tenant Jemil Atan, Turkish citizens who have been charged with the illegal installation of gas tanks in their facility.

Vladimir Semyonov, the assistant chief doctor of the city hospital where victims of the fire were taken, said that three were in critical condition. “They have burns over 70-95 percent of their bodies. We are doing everything possible to ease their suffering and keep them alive.”

[KTK television, KazTAG agency, Kazakhstan-Today agency]