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Ukraine says smouldering grass fires near Chernobyl nuclear zone extinguished

The agency said firefighters "have managed to prevent flames from spreading to forests". More than 150 firefighters and 24 pieces of equipment have been mobilised

MOSCOW, July 3. /TASS/. Fire has been extinguished in all hotspots near Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power plant, emergency officials say.

"As of 9 a.m. on July 3, grass fires have been put out in all six hotspots," Ukraine’s emergencies service said, adding that peat bogs were still smouldering near the settlements of Kovshilovka, Glinka, Staraya Krasnitsa and Lubyanka, covering an area of 26 hectares.

The agency said firefighters "have managed to prevent flames from spreading to forests". More than 150 firefighters and 24 pieces of equipment have been mobilised.

Fires broke out in the exclusion zone around Chernobyl on June 29 when dry grass and reeds blazed over some 130 hectares. The situation is under control at the moment, officials say.