The administration of the Siberian Irkutsk region has declared a state of emergency after forest fires spread to local villages, prompting large-scale evacuations.
More than 39,000 hectares of land in the Irkutsk region had been engulfed by 77 forest fires by Monday, the regional forestry department said, Interfax reported.
Irkutsk Governor Sergei Yeroschenko issued orders Sunday night to declare the state of emergency, banning all commercial activity in forests and dispatching additional resources to fight the fires, the local branch of the Emergency Situations Ministry said in an online statement.
About 300 people were evacuated Sunday from the village of Dalny, where fires have destroyed two dozen homes, the ministry said, Interfax reported.
Local news website NewsBabr.com also cited the ministry as saying that fires at a sawmill in the village of Bratsk and in the Usolsky region had been extinguished by Sunday night.
But a reader on the news portal denounced the ministry's statement as a "lie."
"I don't know what it's like in Bratsk, but in Usolye everything was covered by thick smoke yesterday from the morning until late night," the reader said in a comment Monday.
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.
