Kazakh Air Defense Helicopter Search Enters Second Week at Sorbulak Reservoir

Ten days after an EC-145 helicopter belonging to the Kazakh Air Defense Forces went missing, search and rescue operations remain underway at the Sorbulak water reservoir, where the aircraft is believed to have crashed.

At a government briefing, Kazakh Vice Minister for Emergency Situations, Kegen Turssynbayev, provided the latest updates on the mission, which is being carried out under the supervision of the Ministry of Defense, The Caspian Post reports per Kazakh media.

"Half of the reservoir’s surface area has already been searched," Turssynbayev reported. "We have supplied the necessary specialized equipment, and efforts continue despite the challenging conditions."

He noted that the lake’s depth - ranging from 5 to 25 meters - is significantly complicating underwater search efforts.

The EC-145 helicopter disappeared from radar during a scheduled flight in the Almaty region on July 25. Preliminary reports indicate that three crew members were onboard at the time. Additional rescue personnel and equipment have since been dispatched from other regions to support the operation.