In Photos: Russia's Western Siberian, Urals Regions Gripped by Wildfires
Deadly wildfires continue to ravage regions across Russia’s Ural Mountains and western Siberia, destroying hundreds of buildings and forcing thousands to evacuate their homes.
According to Greenpeace, the area of forest fires in Russia as of May 10 totaled 5.2 million hectares, almost 10 times larger than official government estimates.
At least 23 people have been killed in the blazes since April 25, according to the independent media outlet Verstka.
Over the past week, states of emergency have been declared in several regions, including the Sverdlovsk, Kurgan, Omsk and Tyumen regions, with the Kurgan region being the worst-affected. More than 4,800 firefighters and some 6,000 volunteers are battling the wildfires.
Russia typically experiences two peaks in wildfire activity each year — the first occurring at the end of April and the beginning of May, and the second in late July and August. During the first peak, open spaces around populated areas most often catch fire.
Here is a look at the fires and the damage they have left behind:
According to Greenpeace, the area of forest fires in Russia as of May 10 totaled 5.2 million hectares, almost 10 times larger than official government estimates.
At least 23 people have been killed in the blazes since April 25, according to the independent media outlet Verstka.
Over the past week, states of emergency have been declared in several regions, including the Sverdlovsk, Kurgan, Omsk and Tyumen regions, with the Kurgan region being the worst-affected. More than 4,800 firefighters and some 6,000 volunteers are battling the wildfires.
Russia typically experiences two peaks in wildfire activity each year — the first occurring at the end of April and the beginning of May, and the second in late July and August. During the first peak, open spaces around populated areas most often catch fire.
Here is a look at the fires and the damage they have left behind:
Livestock seen next to a burned-down house in the village of Yuldus, Kurgan region, where a state of emergency has been declared.
Donat Sorokin / TASS
A Victory Day flag flies above the charred remains of buildings in Yuldus.
Donat Sorokin / TASS
A view of burned-out houses in the village of Yuldus, where most of the 19 deaths in this week's fires were recorded.
Donat Sorokin / TASS
A temporary shelter inside a Kurgan school for those displaced from their homes by wildfires.
Maxim Grigoryev / TASS
Emergency crews respond to a wildfire near the village of Bogorodinskoye, Tyumen region.
Maxim Slutsky / TASS
Firefighting crews battle flames into the night.
Maxim Slutsky / TASS
A man helps put out a wildfire near the village of Klyuchevsk, Sverdlovsk region.
Emergency crews try to bring a fire in the village of Klyuchevsk under control.
Donat Sorokin / TASS
A fire engine sits idle outside the village of Pervomaisky, Sverdlovsk region, where a warehouse storing gunpowder caught fire.
Donat Sorokin / TASS
Wildfire smoke in the Sverdlovsk region sweeps into the regional capital of Yekaterinburg.
Anna Yurieva / AFP
