Kazakhstan Rescues Tourist; Companion from Uzbekistan Dies in Fall

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A large-scale search and rescue operation in the mountains of Kazakhstan’s Turkestan region concluded after two tourists went missing near Sayramsu Peak. The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan reported the outcome.

The incident was reported to the 112 emergency line on the evening of September 1, when a relative informed authorities that two young men, born in 1996 and 1997, had left Shymkent for the mountains on August 31 and had not returned.

Search efforts focused on the Sayram-Ugam National Park area at approximately 2,200 meters above sea level, eight kilometers from the village of Qasqasu. Difficult rocky terrain complicated the rescue operation.

“At the ‘Pass of Goodwill,’ rescuers established voice contact with one of the tourists, who reported that his companion—a citizen of Uzbekistan born in 1996—had fallen into a gorge and suffered fatal injuries,” the Ministry stated.

The KazAviaSpas helicopter could not reach the site due to the terrain and weather conditions. Five professional mountaineers from the Kazakhstan Mountaineering Federation, together with emergency personnel, climbed the cliffs to locate the survivor and recover the body of the deceased.

The surviving tourist was evacuated to the mountain base on horseback and met by family members. The deceased’s body was handed over to police authorities.

A total of 18 personnel from the Ministry of Emergency Situations, police, and forestry services participated in the operation, using five vehicles, drones, and a helicopter.