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Two more EMERCOM planes sent to Yakutia hit by wildfires

Number of forest fires reduced from 17 to 14 over past two days; total area grown more than three times

GORNO-ALTAISK, June 17 (Itar-Tass) - Two planes of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations, a Be-200ChS and an Il-76, arrived in Yakutia on Monday to help put out major wildfires and also to help local settlements and economic facilities in case the blaze comes close, the press service of the ministry’s regional department reports.

Four EMERCOM planes are already operating in Yakutia. Two planes are based at the airport of Mirny and put out wildfires in the Suntar district, and two more are based at the airport of Yakutsk. Thirty rescuers are also expected to arrive within the day in Yakutia, where 150 smoke-jumpers already combat the fires.

Meanwhile, the number of forest fires has reduced from 17 to 14 over the past two days, but the total area has grown more than three times, reaching 50,721 hectares. In connection with a difficult fire situation in Yakutia, on June 13 the president of the republic imposed emergency measures in local forests.