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Explosions, Panic, Darkness: Kyrgyz Passenger Describes Azerbaijan Airlines Crash

"We are making an emergency landing. Hold on tight, the impact will be strong. After landing, exit the plane quickly.” Rinat Asanov, a passenger from Kyrgyzstan and one of 29 people who survived the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan on December 25, recalled the announcement by a flight attendant shortly before the violent impact that killed 38 others on the aircraft. Asanov, who suffered a severe head injury, fractures and bruises, was recently discharged from a hospital in Bishkek and was interviewed by AKIpress, a news agency based in the Kyrgyz capital. Azerbaijan alleges the Embraer 190 plane diverted from a planned landing in Grozny, Chechnya to Aktau, Kazakhstan after being accidentally hit by Russian ground fire, and Kazakh authorities have said preliminary results of an investigation are expected this month. Most of the 67 people on board, including five crewmembers, were from Azerbaijan, and the second-largest group was from Russia. Six Kazakh citizens died. All three Kyrgyz nationals on the plane survived. Asanov, who was in a coma for three days in a Kazakh hospital before being transferred to intensive care in Kyrgyzstan, described a “good mood” as the flight got underway that morning. He promptly fell asleep on the plane. “Suddenly, a loud sound was heard, similar to an explosion,” he told AKIpress. “I woke up in panic and everyone was crying.” Seconds later, another explosion. “I was confused and didn't understand what was happening. The flight attendants tried to calm down us saying: "Don't panic, everything will be fine, we will land safely."´ Then came the warning about the emergency landing. “It’s difficult to imagine how one should feel at such moments,” Asanov said in the interview, which was published on Tuesday. “First I believed that we could land with no consequences. It was very scary, I felt my vision darken. Later I realized I had lost consciousness. I was sitting in the middle of the cabin, near the wing. As I was later told, passengers in this area and in the tail section of the plane were less injured. However, many in the front part of the plane were severely affected." Other passengers have given similar accounts of events leading to the crash, and small holes in part of the fuselage appear to support the theory that the plane was sprayed with shrapnel. Edil Baisalov, Kyrgyzstan’s deputy Cabinet chairman, visited the Kyrgyz survivors while they were being treated at the National Hospital in Bishkek. He said the country is “incredibly lucky” that they survived and he thanked Kazakhstan for rescue and treatment efforts, according to 24.kg, a Kyrgyz news agency. The two other Kyrgyz survivors were less severely injured than Asanov and were discharged from hospital care before him. Asanov, an IT student at the International University of Kyrgyzstan, previously worked for two years as a surveyor on construction sites in Russia. He is in his 20s. Since the accident, he has found strength in his religious faith and a feeling that he has a...

6 hours ago

Science Caspian Region Caspian Sea NASA geographic

NASA Discovers ‘Ghost’ Island in the Caspian Sea

NASA satellites have detected a fascinating phenomenon in the Caspian Sea: the temporary formation of an island following the eruption of the Kumani mud volcano. According to data from NASA's Earth Observatory, the island emerged in early 2023 but had almost completely disappeared by the end of 2024, earning it the nickname “ghost island.” The island was first observed using Landsat 8 and 9 satellite imagery in January 2023, shortly after the volcano erupted. It measured up to 400 meters wide and was accompanied by a visible sedimentary plume extending from its surface. However, by late 2024, the island had diminished significantly, leaving only faint traces of its existence. The Kumani mud volcano, located 25 kilometers off the eastern coast of Azerbaijan, is no stranger to such occurrences. Since its first recorded eruption in 1861, the volcano has periodically created temporary islands, which vanish after short periods. Mud volcanoes like Kumani are common in regions with active tectonic activity. They eject high-pressure mixtures of water, gas, and sediment, forming landmasses that are often unstable and short-lived. The Caspian region is notable for its high concentration of mud volcanoes, with more than 300 such formations in Azerbaijan and on the Caspian Sea shelf. Many of these volcanoes emit combustible gases, particularly methane, which has drawn the interest of scientists and geologists. The connection between these mud volcanoes and the hydrocarbon systems of the South Caspian Basin makes them critical subjects for research. The emergence and disappearance of this “ghost” island in the Caspian Sea highlight how much remains to be understood about mud volcanoes. These transient landforms demonstrate the dynamic forces of nature and underscore the need for further exploration of geological processes occurring on the seafloor.

1 day ago

Economy Water Water Management Water resources

Differentiated Tariffs Lead to Significant Drop in Water Consumption Across Kazakhstan

Water consumption has significantly decreased in eleven regions of Kazakhstan following the implementation of differentiated tariffs for water supply in 2024. The new tariff system, introduced at the start of last year, applies an increasing coefficient based on the principle of “the more you consume, the more you pay.” The system features four levels of tariffs for individuals: Up to 3 cubic meters per month: Consumers continue to pay the original tariff, which varies by region but averaged 82.66 KZT ($0.16) per cubic meter nationwide when the system was introduced. This group accounts for 49% of the population in the eleven regions. 3 to 5 cubic meters per month: A 20% increase in the tariff applies, covering 20% of the population. 5 to 10 cubic meters per month: The tariff rises by 50%, affecting another 20% of the population. Over 10 cubic meters per month: The tariff doubles, impacting 11% of the population. The introduction of these “social norms of consumption” has led to an average water savings of 1.65 million cubic meters per month in six regions — Akmola, Aktobe, Turkestan, Ulytau oblasts, and the cities of Almaty and Shymkent. According to official data, the average monthly water consumption in these regions dropped from 21.1 million cubic meters to 19.5 million cubic meters after the implementation of the new tariff system. As of December 1, 2024, the “social consumption norms” were extended to the Zhambyl region, with plans to roll out the system in Mangistau, East Kazakhstan, West Kazakhstan, and North Kazakhstan regions in 2025. “Additional funds generated from increased tariffs for high-consumption users will be directed toward the modernization and reconstruction of water supply and wastewater infrastructure,” stated the press service of the anti-monopoly committee. These investments aim to improve service quality and enhance the sustainability of the water supply system. The Ministry of the National Economy estimates the additional revenue from the tariff increases at approximately 13 billion KZT (around $25 million) annually. Previously, The Times of Central Asia reported that nearly 10 million people, or 14% of Central Asia's population, lack reliable access to safe drinking water. The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has estimated that addressing this issue will require over $12 billion between 2025 and 2030, or roughly $2 billion per year.

2 days ago

Turkmenistan Science Nature speleology

U.S. Magazine Highlights French Cave Explorers’ Discoveries in Koytendag, Turkmenistan

The December 2024 issue of NSS News, a U.S. magazine, featured an in-depth report on the spring expedition of French speleologists to Koytendag, Turkmenistan. The expedition brought together 17 specialists in topography, photogrammetry, biospeleology, geology, and karstology. Their primary objectives were to document existing cave systems, create updated maps, and identify unexplored caves. Over 21 days, the team surveyed approximately 19 kilometers of caves, conducted over 8,500 topographic measurements, and refined maps created by Russian researchers. A major focus of the expedition was 3D photogrammetric modeling of the Geophysical (Gulshirin) Cave, renowned for its stunning gypsum formations. Using a Disto X laser rangefinder and the Topodroid app, the researchers enhanced mapping accuracy and created a digital replica of the cave. This cutting-edge model serves both scientific and educational purposes. “We took more than 50,000 photos in four days, allowing us to produce a highly accurate 3D model,” one expedition participant explained. “This technology not only reveals the cave’s internal structure and unique gypsum formations but also offers an immersive viewing experience.” The team also explored the northwestern part of the massif, identifying small gypsum systems and passages several tens of meters in length. To the east, near the snowy peak of Airybaba at an altitude of 2,400 meters, they discovered a cave marked on their maps. However, adverse weather conditions delayed a full survey of the site. Despite challenges in accessing some areas, the expedition yielded significant results. Koytendag reaffirmed its reputation as a geologically and biospeleologically rich region. The expedition’s findings were presented at a conference held at the French Institute in Ashgabat. Koytendag’s unique caves remain an untapped treasure, holding immense potential for advancing scientific and ecological understanding.

5 days ago

Wagner Group Deportation Migrants USA Border Security

Russian or Kazakh? Questions, Security Concerns About Man Detained at U.S. Border

A man who said he is a citizen of Kazakhstan pleaded guilty this week to illegally entering the United States at the southern border with Mexico. But U.S. prosecutors said he was also carrying a Russian passport and that he admitted to being a member of the Wagner Group, a Russia-backed mercenary organization that is a target of U.S. sanctions, according to a media report in Texas. A criminal complaint filed on Jan. 5 against the man, Timur Praliev, says U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered him on the previous day. “When questioned as to his citizenship, defendant stated that he was a citizen and national of Kazakhstan, who had entered the United States illegally on January 4, 2025 by crossing the Rio Grande River near Roma, Texas,” read the complaint, which was filed in federal court in McAllen, Texas. However, the ValleyCentral.com news site, which covers the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas, reported that Praliev was carrying both Russian and Kazakh passports, a total of about $7,000 in U.S. dollars and Mexican pesos and also had a drone in his backpack. The news site attributed information about Praliev to Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda McColgan. The federal prosecutor requested that Praliev be sentenced to 15 days in prison because of concern about his association with Wagner, which has fought in Western-backed Ukraine and also projected Russian power in Syria and several African countries, with sometimes brutal methods. On Jan. 7, Praliev pleaded guilty to illegal entry into the United States and U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker sentenced him to time served, meaning that he had completed his prison sentence while waiting in detention for the hearing. Dave Hendricks, the journalist who reported on the case for ValleyCentral.com, said on X that “he'll almost certainly remain in federal custody until he's deported.”

5 days ago