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Wildfires in Siberia continue leaping to new areas

Rescuers managed to localize 19 seats of fire (out of 39) over 1,564 hectares

KRASNOYARSK, October 9 (Itar-Tass) — Autumn wildfires continue leaping to new areas in Siberia. The area, engulfed in flames, increased by 258 hectares over the past 24 hours, totaling 2,368 ha by this morning.

Rescuers managed to localize 19 seats of fire (out of 39) over 1,564 hectares, Itar-Tass learnt at the Siberian regional centre of the Russian Ministry for Emergencies.

Flames are raging in taiga and steppe zones of the Trans-Baikal Territory, the Buryatia and Tuva republics. They are battled by 2,583 people and 516 units of machinery. Last evening, a combined squad of specialists from the Tomsk air base, consisting of 48 people, arrived in Ulan-Ude, Buryatia.

“The aviation of the Ministry for Emergencies involved in firefighting three aircraft for reconnaissance, air-lifting of civil paratroopers and for putting out forest fires. The aircraft made 15 flights, bringing 115 civil paratroopers and 13 tonnes of cargoes to seats of fire. Besides, they dropped 10 tonnes of water on places, engulfed in flames,” the ministry specified.

The state of emergency is in force in the Trans-Baikal Territory since October 3. Access of population to the taiga is forbidden. The state of emergency was clamped down on Buryatia forests from October 7. A special fire-protection regime was introduced in Tuva forests on Saturday. It will be in operation till November 14 on a decision of the republican government.

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