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20 of 90 forest fires extinguished in Far East

The blaze went over 2,394 hectares during the day
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

KHABAROVSK, June 29 (Itar-Tass) — Twenty of 90 forest fires raging on more than 5,600 hectares in the Far East were extinguished over the past day. Twenty fires were localized. The blaze went over 2,394 hectares during the day.

The strength of the firefighting force is increased to 1,330 people, the Far East Federal District's Forestry Department told Itar-Tass.

The number of ground machines and aircraft is also increased. There are more than 270 tractors, bulldozers and other vehicles working in the areas. Nineteen planes and helicopters patrol the territory and carry firefighters to burning sites.

The crews of two powerful Mi-26 helicopters this Friday drop water on the most dangerous outbreaks in inaccessible areas in the Khabarovsk Territory and the Sakhalin Region, the Russian Emergencies Ministry's Far Eastern regional centre said.

According to forest guard services, the most complicated situation remains in the Khabarovsk Territory, where 36 fires have swept 2,400 hectares of the taiga. Forests also burn in Yakutia, the Amur and Magadan regions and Sakhalin.