Siberia: fires ravage hundreds of buildings and kill at least 5 people
This aerial photo taken from an airplane on July 27, 2021, shows smoke rising from a forest fire outside the village of Berdigestyakh in Siberia's Sakha Republic.
AFP - DIMITAR DILKOFF
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The authorities in Krasnoyarsk (eastern Siberia) are fighting numerous fires, aggravated by stronger than normal winds.
About 300 people and 90 vehicles are trying to deal with it.
The governor of the region has requested help from neighboring territories.
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A state of emergency has been declared in Siberia as numerous fires are aggravated by strong winds in progress in the region.
Local authorities said the fires affected hundreds of buildings and killed at least five people.
“
The fire is spreading in more than 16 inhabited areas.
About 200 buildings, several sawmills, a kindergarten are burning, there are already dead people
,” the Ministry of Emergency Situations of this region said on Telegram.
According to the authorities, some 300 people and more than 90 vehicles are fighting the fires.
“
Extinguishing is complicated by weather conditions – high winds accelerate the spread of fires and make it difficult to put an end to them
,” added the local ministry.
Winds at 40 meters per second
After holding an emergency meeting, the governor of the region, Alexandre Ourss, said in a statement that the fires had been caused by winds reaching in some regions 40 meters per second, against 25 m / s expected.
This wind would have caused "
falling trees, overlapping and falling power lines
", following which "fires broke out simultaneously in many areas of the Krasnoyarsk Territory".
► To listen also: Grand Reportage - Fires in Siberia, the endless fight
The winds are expected to maintain this intensity for "
at least four to six hours
," the governor's office said.
“
We have asked for help from our neighboring territories, but we are aware that it will only happen in the best case for a few hours
,” Mr Ourss said.
More frequent fires
“
I gave the order to cut off the electricity in part of the territory of the region, except for the survival facilities, gas stations and water supply systems
,” the governor added.
In the most affected areas, “
temporary accommodation points will be opened and people will benefit from medical and psychological assistance
”.
Unprecedented fires have been ravaging Siberia for several years.
In 2021, fires, particularly in eastern Siberia, released 16 million tonnes of carbon (the fourth highest volume since the start of measurements in 2003), according to the annual European climate report.
(
With
AFP)
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