AREA OF WILDFIRES IN RUSSIA DECREASES BY OVER 7,000 HA
Baku, August 16 (AZERTAC). The area of wildfires in Russia has decreased by over 7,000 hectares over the past 24 hours, sources from the press department of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations told Itar-Tass on Monday.
They said, “494 fires with a total area exceeding 45,800 hectares continue” across Russia. Four fires have been put out in the past 24 hours. According to the ministry, 306 fires have been localised and 36 major fires covering the area of over 32,300 hectares are still fixed in Russia.
Over 166,000 people take part in putting out wildfires, assisted by 26,500 units of hardware. A total of 515 firemen have arrived from abroad. Three planes and six helicopters have been sent to Russia from different countries.
Head of the National Centre for Crisis Situations Response Vladimir Stepanov told journalists, “The areas of fires in the Ryazan and Vladimir regions continue to decrease. When the wind changes the smog comes from these regions.”
“Today we will exert maximum effort to fight fires in the Ryazan, Vladimir and Sverdlovsk regions, as well as in the republics of Mari-El, Mordovia and Chuvashia,” Stepanov said.
Over 166,000 people and 26,500 units of equipment take part in fighting fires. At least 515 foreign fire-fighters, including three aircraft and six helicopters, help Russian rescuers extinguish fires.
Other news in this section
