Wildfires swept across several regions in southwestern Russia over the weekend, with emergency crews in the Rostov region struggling to contain some 140 blazes that damaged homes and destroyed woodland.
“Strong winds, power line overlaps and careless handling of fire have caused wildfires in several populated areas of the Rostov region,” Governor Vasily Golubev said Sunday.
“First responders are on the scene, but gale-force winds are making their work significantly more difficult,” he added, noting that no casualties had been reported.
On Monday, Golubev said the fires destroyed 13 homes, and emergency crews were still working to contain at least one fire in the Aksaysky district near Rostov-on-Don, where smoke blanketed the skies.
Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said an open-air market caught fire overnight in the town of Aksay, damaging at least 25 pavilions before the flames were extinguished by Monday morning.
In 2023, the Rostov region recorded 3,800 fires covering a total of 196,000 hectares (757 square miles).
Elsewhere, dry weather and unusually high temperatures triggered multiple wildfires in the Bryansk region, while a large fire near a landfill in the Belgorod region was reportedly caused by burning litter and deadwood. The Emergency Situations Ministry said it had localized at least three fires in the area by Sunday.
Nationwide, 10,000 people were evacuated, and 76 died in more than 8,100 fires across Russia last week, according to the Emergency Situations Ministry.
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.
