Body of missing teen found near Almaty mountains with help of drone

Tengrinews.kz - New details have emerged about the discovery of the body of the 18-year-old who went missing in the Almaty mountains. According to the city’s Emergency Situations Department (DES), the body was located with the help of a drone.

“At 7:30 a.m. on July 11, during large-scale search and rescue operations in the mountains of Almaty, a combined team from the Republican Operational Rescue Team (ROSO), the Almaty Emergency Department, the city rescue service, and volunteers located the body using a drone at an altitude of over 3,000 meters above sea level,” the DES stated.

Rescue crews immediately set out on foot to retrieve the body, a trek that took more than two and a half hours.
An operational headquarters remains on-site, and psychologists from both ROSO and DES are working with the victim’s family.
The missing teen, Nurislam Akylbek, had not been seen since July 2, when he went hiking and failed to return. His brother reported him missing to the police on July 6.
An operational base was set up at the Ayusai Visitor Center, and search teams covered three primary routes extending from the cosmic station toward Big Almaty Peak (BAP), including both sides of the ridgeline, the slopes descending to Alma-Arasan and Ayusai, and areas stretching to the border outpost.
Search efforts were later expanded to include the eastern and western slopes of Kroshka Peak and Tourist Peak, as well as the ravine leading to the glacial lake known as “Scotland.”
Despite storm warnings, the search continued around the clock.
A total of 44 personnel from ROSO, DES, the 109 rescue service, border guards, police, and volunteers participated, supported by 8 units of equipment, 3 drones, 4 canine teams, and aircraft from the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Earlier, 18-year-old Nurislam Akylbek was reported missing. According to his family, he had gone hiking in the mountains. His phone was last detected in the area of the Big Almaty Gorge.
The Almaty Police Department press service stated that there were no visible signs of violent death. A forensic examination has been ordered. The circumstances are being investigated.