Rescuers evacuate two foreign tourists injured in Almaty mountains

Rescuers successfully evacuated two foreign tourists from a remote, high-altitude monitoring station in the mountains near Almaty, Kazakhstan, after they sustained injuries. The tourists were part of a group of eight staying at the Toguzak monitoring station, operated by the Emergency Ministry’s Kazselezashchita agency, at an elevation of 3,510 meters.

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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.

A 25-year-old woman suffered a head injury when a falling rock struck her, despite wearing a helmet. A 32-year-old man injured his arm after a fall, with a suspected fracture.

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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.

Rescue operations faced significant challenges. Aircraft were initially unusable due to the high-altitude terrain, dense fog, rain, and flight restrictions. Rescuers had to trek to the station through the Left Talgar Gorge. Morning brought improved weather, allowing a Kazaviaspas helicopter to evacuate the injured tourists to the Medeu landing site. Emergency Ministry personnel met them there and transported them to a medical facility for further assessment and treatment. The ministry confirmed that the tourists' lives and health are not at risk.

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