Officials in Siberia banned residents from setting foot in the local forests and declared an emergency situation in light of the rapid expansion of forest fires in the Buryatia region.
"For the duration of the emergency situation, entering forests is strictly forbidden for the population," and punishable by fines of up to 100,000 rubles ($2,800), the region's forestry department said in a statement quoted by Interfax Friday.
Forest fires have spread over an area of 2,778 hectares in the past night — effectively doubling the area that had been covered the day before, the report said.
Nature reserves Zabaikalsky and Barguzinsky were among the areas affected by the flames, Interfax reported.
See also:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.