VLADIVOSTOK, August 12. /ITAR-TASS/. Heavy forest fires which broke out in the Russian Far East since the forest fire season began have already destroyed huge forest territories, the press service of the forestry administration of the Russian Far East said Tuesday.
"This year, the fires have already destroyed more than 1.6 million hectares of forests, which is double the forest territory damaged in the same period last year," it said.
Over the past twenty-four hours forest protection services had been extinguishing 29 forest fires, including 27 fires which broke out on the territory of Yakutia. Despite their efforts, forests have burnt down on a territory of around 720 hectares.
Fires also broke out in forests in the Amur region and Chukotka, where a fire source of around one hectare has been liquidated.
On Monday, regional forest protection administrations employed around 1,300 firefighters, heavy fire fighting machinery and aircraft to prevent the forest fires from spreading.