Area covered by wildfires in Far East increased 30 times in one month

The number of ceasefires and their areas in several Far Eastern regions increased 30 times in the past month, Acting Deputy Emergencies Minister Viktor Yatsutsenko said at a teleconference in the Emergencies Ministry on Monday.

"A growth in the number of hotspots in the Khabarovsk, Primorsky and Trans-Baikal Regions was registered. The total area is more than 600 hectares, with no threat to communities and economic facilities. The number of sources and areas reportedly grew more than 30 times," he said.

In light of this, Emergencies Minister Yevgeny Zinichev ordered to activate means and forces due to the deterioration of the fire situation, as well as carry out drills, preventive operations and provide safety in communities. "A special fire prevention regime was declared in some regions of the Far Eastern Federal District," the minister reiterated.

"Local fire stations were activated to protect communities from wildfires: more than 200 posts, which have more than 200 various equipment units," Director of the Department for Readiness and Special Fire Protection of the Emergencies Ministry Maxim Maximenko reported.

Andrei Popov, acting head of the Department for Aviation and Aviation-Rescue Technologies of the Emergencies Ministry, said that 15 planes and 53 helicopters may be deployed from the federal districts to extinguish the wildfires. "The state defense procurement program until 2025 stipulates the purchase of another seven Mi-8 helicopters," he added.