General
Over 6,000 forest fires burning in Russia, say officials
There have been over 6,000 forest fires in Russia in recent weeks, which have consumed more than 9,900 square km of woodland, the prosecutor general’s office announced on Saturday.
Southern Siberia, areas close to Lake Baikal, the far east and the far west of the country are the worst-affected regions.
The fires have not caused any deaths so far nor burned any homes, the authorities said.
According to Russia’s Environment Ministry, 60 percent of the fires were man-made, caused by bonfires and campfires that got out of control.
Bonfires and campfires are popular in Russia. Plus, in springtime, people often burn dry grass, a further contributor.
Many of the fires raging are in remote areas that are hard to access. Some 1,000 members of the fire brigade are working to bring the blazes under control, with the help of 30 firefighting aircraft.
Last year, flames consumed 150,000 square kilometers of land, according to estimates by Greenpeace, an environmental NGO.
-
News24 hours ago
Lagos real estate agent schools Yemi Alade on demolition comments
-
News22 hours ago
Remi Tinubu hosts first Nigerian female British military academy graduate
-
News19 hours ago
Ogundu, Ikorodu,17 other areas to benefit from IKEDC Band A feeder
-
Metro7 hours ago
Police PRO ‘threatens’ X user who called ex-IGPs criminals
-
News20 hours ago
Nigerians react as Lagos police shares tips dealing with armed individuals
-
News6 hours ago
Nigerians slam Seyi Tinubu’s involvement in coastal highway project
-
Metro20 hours ago
Adamawa closes down schools over measles outbreak
-
News10 hours ago
Police shoot Delta woman, teargas protesters, others injured