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Russia's Trans-Baikal forest service dismisses reports about wildfires crossing into China

CHITA, April 14. /TASS/. The state forest service of the Trans-Baikal region in Russia’s Siberia has dismissed earlier reports saying wildfires raging in the region had crossed into northern China.

The agency’s website said it had contacted the heads of all territorial forest districts bordering on Inner Mongolia, northern China, to specify the reports. Satellite data has not confirmed these reports either, the agency said.

Earlier reports by Chinese emergency rescue services said wildfires had hit Argun, Inner Mongolia Province, destroying at least 85 residential and farm buildings, as well as vehicles and other hardware.

The Xinxua News Agency said the economic damage was put at $3.2 million.

Fires in the Trans-Baikal region began on March 19, already destroying 145 residential buildings in 19 local settlements, say Tuesday reports.