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Forest fires rage Yakutsk on area of 2,300 hectares

A total of 17 hot spots have been registered in Yakutsk’s forests

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

VLADIVOSTOK, August 2 (Itar-Tass) — Forest fires have raged in Yakutsk on the area of 2,300 hectares, the Emergency Main Directorate for the Republic of Sakha reported on Thursday.

A total of 17 hot spots have been registered in Yakutsk’s forests. The smoke caused by the fire in the Ust-Maysky and Amginsky districts and by the south-eastern winds has reached Yakutsk. The smog has been reported in the city, the directorate’s press service said.

The total area of the fires amounts to 2347,6 hectares (1311,1 hectares in the forest area and 1036,5 hectares outside it). In the past 24 hours fire-fighters succeeded in localising five hot spots on the area of 277,600 hectares and put out six forest fires on the area of 13,100 hectares. At least 647 people and 88 units of hardware, including five aircraft, have been involved in fighting fires.

Within the nearest three days forest fires can bring the smoke to settlements in the Amginsky, Churapchinsky, Mirninsky, Khangalassky, Gorny, Ust-Aldansky, Ust-Maysky, Lensky, Vilyusky and Namsky districts.

In addition, according to space monitoring, there is no threat to settlements and economic facilities.

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