Peter NOVIKOV
ALMATY, Oct 28
(THE GLOBE)
The tragedy took place in the village of Alatau. Since 1962 the boiler-house of the Nuclear Physics Institute has been dumping ash near the village. For 37 years an ashy archipelago has been formed. Ash was brought here along with smouldering coal. The dump does not comply with any standards. Oxygen reached coal and reaction started. Coal is on fire. Burning temperature under ground comes to 300� to 400� C. Due to the fire, soil is as loosened as quicksands. A person who steps on such a wretched hole may fall down getting burns.
The Extraordinary Situations Committee (ESC) announced this zone dangerous for life. ESC fined guilty persons.
The local authorities issued a decree on proper measures, but as usual there is no money. The Akimat allotted 24 and 3 thousand tenge to the Millers and Chaikins respectively. But these families have to pay for medical services. If no measures are taken, the Akimat will not be able to allot money to funeral.
This year is especially tragic in Alatau. At present 6 persons suffered, including 4 died. Two of them are 12-years old children.
Edmund Miller managed to survive, but skin and muscles of his leg burnt. He underwent a cosmetic operation. Edmund lives with his father and grandmother. His mother left the son, when he was 8 months.
The second boy died. Nikolai Chaikin�s muscles and skin on arms and legs burnt to bones. His kidneys failed. The boy�s family is poor. Nikolai�s mother Lyubov Chaikina has two other small children. She brings them up without husband.
The village Akimat allotted three thousand tenge to the boy�s funeral. Is it enough today? Lyubov�s mother is her only relative. She lives with a small pension paid irregularly. Beside these boys the tragedy touched young people A. Sarkieva (19), B. Zhenisov (21), V. Bondar (24) and Nikolai Ostrovsky.
The girl died suffering from burns. Zhenisov survived, but his leg was amputated. It is a severe sorrow for a young man.
Fortunately, Vyacheslav Bondar and Nikolai Ostrovsky just had serious burnings. Now they will have to spend a lot of money to restore health.
P.S. THE GLOBE decided to announce a charitable action to assist families of died persons in that infernal quagmire. The collective has allotted five thousand tenge. Today your money may help unfortunate people.
You may send money to Lyubov Chaikina and Tatiana Ivanovna Snovalova (Edmund�s grandmother): Public Union �Informational Centre of Alatau�, acc. 03700755, PHH 600900135184, Almaty subsidiary of the People�s Bank of Kazakhstan, ��� 190501601. THE GLOBE is ready to publish names of persons who helped these families.
All Over the Globe is published by IPA House.
© 1998 IPA House. All Rights Reserved.