Aktau Residents Come Together to Donate Blood for Baku-Grozny Flight Crash Victims
Aktau Residents Answer Urgent Call for Blood Donations After Plane Crash
Residents of Aktau wasted no time in responding to a call for blood donations following a tragic plane crash near the city on Dec. 25. The outpouring of support for the victims was heartwarming, with many healthy individuals heeding the call for help.
The Blood Center of the Mangystau Region issued an appeal earlier in the day, asking for blood donations from those willing and able to give. The center stated, “We ask all caring residents of our region to come to the blood center now and donate blood. If you are healthy, have not eaten fatty foods today, and, most importantly, want to help people in need, then we are waiting for you today, Dec. 25, until 4 p.m.”
The response from the community was swift and overwhelming, with numerous Aktau residents showing up at the center to donate blood. Local news outlet Lada commended the residents for their solidarity and compassion, reporting, “Caring residents of Aktau came to the city blood center to donate blood for the victims of the plane crash.”
The accident involved an Embraer 190 aircraft, flight number J2-8243, en route from Baku to Grozny. The plane was forced to make an emergency landing three kilometers from Aktau. On board were 67 people, including five crew members. Initial reports from the Kazakh Ministry of Transport indicated that the passengers included citizens from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. Thankfully, 29 people survived, including two children, and were transported to hospitals.
In light of the incident, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev established a State Commission to address the situation, while the government formed a separate commission to investigate the crash’s causes. The Transport Police Department initiated a pre-trial investigation, and Azerbaijani officials have traveled to Kazakhstan to offer assistance.
The united efforts of the Aktau community in coming together to support those affected by the tragedy exemplify the true spirit of compassion and solidarity during times of crisis.
