Devastating 245-Acre Wildfires Continue to Rage Across Siberia

A total of 40 wildfires remain blazing in Russia’s Siberia, affecting almost 245 acres of Zabaikalsky Territory, the state forest service said on Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Over 1,200 people are battling the fire that had spread into 11 regions of Zabaikalsky Territory, the service said in a statement.

Forest fires in Siberia spread on more than 100 thousand hectares http://t.co/PijRlAaJ88 pic.twitter.com/VniSKanXxa

— Сегодня.ua (@segodnya_online) 17 апреля 2015

The Siberian fires started quickly spreading throughout the region in mid-April due to strong winds. In Khakassia republic in southern Siberia, almost 40 villages were affected by the fire. The fires already killed at least 30 people and left five thousand homeless, according to the latest data.

Forest fires spread from Russia to China http://t.co/iVu9RuFHpO pic.twitter.com/M5K61HRrPP

— Сегодня.ua (@segodnya_online) 14 апреля 2015

Russian Defense Ministry said earlier in the day that it started helping residents from severely hit areas to get their destroyed households back on track.

Forest fires in the Zabaikalye territory

© Sputnik / Евгений Епанчинцев

/

Go to the mediabank