President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has offered his condolences following the deaths of 12 people in a house fire in the Turkestan region, Kazakhstan.

Axar.az informs, citing Tengrinews.kz, according to the regional Emergency Situations Department, on the morning of November 18 they received a report of a fire in a two-story private home in the village of Algabas, Zhetysai district.

When firefighters arrived, they found the house completely engulfed in flames.

“During the search and firefighting operation, three people were rescued unconscious and handed over to paramedics. Twelve bodies were found inside, including nine children,” the statement said.

All emergency services are working at the scene. An investigation has been launched, and the cause of the fire is being determined.