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Steppe fire spreads to Russian village, people evacuated

A village in Russia’s Trans-Baikal territory has been caught by fire. Fourteen out of 35 houses have gone ablaze

MOSCOW, April 12 (Itar-Tass) — A village in Russia’s Trans-Baikal territory has been caught by fire. Fourteen out of 35 houses have gone ablaze, the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations reports.

“Evacuation is under way,” the Ministry’s representative told Itar-Tass. He added that the fire had been caused by burning grass and gusty wind whose speed reached 35 meters per second. The flames from burning steppe grass reached the Onon-Baza populated locality, 200 kilometers to the south off Chita, at around 21:35 Moscow time.

Five buses are evacuating the villagers to the Tsokhto-Khangil settlement. No one is hurt.

Fire crews are working at the scene.

This is Russia’s first fire this year that has spread to a populated locality.

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