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Emergency aviation involved in fighting wildfires in Russia’s Amur region

“The weather is dry and windy. Gusts of wind reach 27 metres per second. We are forming a strong emergency aviation grouping here,” Russian Minister of Emergency Situations Vladimir Puchkov says

© ITAR-TASS / Victor Chavain

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BLAGOVESHCHENSK, April 16. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian Minister of Emergency Situations Vladimir Puchkov ordered to involve emergency aircraft in fighting wildfires in Russian Far East’s Amur region.

He has made a flight by helicopter over the region on Wednesday. During the flight wildfires on an area of around 16 thousand hectares were spotted.

“In general, current situation is under control, but it is quite difficult. The weather is dry and windy. Gusts of wind reach 27 metres per second. We are forming a strong emergency aviation grouping here,” Puchkov noted.

In his words, airplanes Ilyushin Il-76 and Be-200 and a helicopter Mil Mi-8 with a helibucket are working alongside the ground grouping. “We are working in close co-operation with the Federal Forestry Agency and other federal structures and certainly an emergency situation committee in Amur Region and chiefs of municipal entities,” the minister added.

Meanwhile, Puchkov has estimated current flood situation on local rivers Zeya and Amur.

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