In the Oktobrskiy district of Bishkek, at the corner of Toktonalieva and Zhamanbaeva streets, a fire occurred in a building that was previously used as the cinema 'Chatyr-Kul'. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic.
According to the agency's information, the fire alarm was received at 17:13. A crew from fire station No. 5 in the Oktobrskiy district was dispatched to the scene.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire continues to rage, the roof of the building is collapsing, and it is difficult for the emergency services to reach the fire's source. 24.kg also confirmed this information.
At 17:18, three more fire units from other districts were called in to extinguish the fire, and an operational headquarters was established.
Currently, the causes of the fire are being investigated, and additional information will be provided later.
Reference: History of the building
The cinema 'Chatyr-Kul' was opened in 1967 in the Botanical residential area on Dushanbinskaya Street (now Toktonalieva). It became part of the cultural and recreational infrastructure of the district and could accommodate 600 viewers, making it an important venue for the residents of the new city quarters.
Over time, the cinema ceased its operations. In 2010, the building was nationalized and transferred to the state youth theater 'Uchur', but no major renovations were carried out, and the theater continued to use the old premises without significant changes.
In the 2010s, a dispute arose over the ownership of this building. The former owner claimed that the building was taken without compensation and demanded payment of about 3 million soms. The legal proceedings lasted a long time, while the building itself continued to deteriorate.
At the time of the fire, the building was in a state of neglect: windows and doors were broken, the territory was unmaintained, and the building itself was essentially vacant and unused.
