INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russias Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov went to the Zabaikalsky area in the nations Far East on Monday to evaluate growing
wildfires in the areaAs of Monday, 50 wildfires were burning across theZabaikalsky region and covered approximately 168,000 hectares
(415,137 acres), according to the Interfax news firm, which mentioned regional authorities
Nearly 70% of the fires lie in the remote and sparsely populated Tungokochensky district.Natural Resources and Ecology Minister Alexander
Kozlov signed up with Kurenkov on his see to the Far East, the state-run news company TASS reported
The Emergency Situations Ministry released a video of both authorities showing up in the local capital of Chita by plane.The ministers will
examine the operational circumstance in the area as an outcome of large natural fires, the Emergency Situations Ministry informed TASS
The two ministers are expected to fly over the most afflicted areas and monitor firefighting efforts before holding a coordination
meeting.Responsibility for snuffing out the wildfires presently lies withRussias Forest Fund and the Federal Forest Service
Interfax reported Monday that a federal-level emergency may be declared, which would shift control to the Emergency Situations Ministry.Last
week, authorities in the Zabaikalsky regionintroduced movement constraints to contain the fast-spreading fires
Homeowners need to acquire previous approval from local officials to leave their communities, except when taking a trip on local or federal
highways.The situation is extraordinary and exceptionally dangerous
Nearly the whole region is ablaze, Zabaikalsky Governor Alexander Osipov said in a telecasted address recently
Every day, dozens of settlements are endangered.Since the start of the year, Russia has recorded at least 680 wildfires covering more than
178,000 hectares (439,847 acres), Emergency Situations Minister Alexandr Kurenkovsaidlast Monday.As of Friday, more than 80% of those fires
werelocatedin the Zabaikalsky area, according to Russias Aerial Forest Protection Service, which keeps track of the spread of wildfires.
