Forest fires in Siberia have spread to 121,980 hectares, says Russia's forestry agency Rosleskhoz; 32 of 95 fires are burning on 116,323 hectares in Trans-Baikal territory where emergency situation has been declared

Wendy Lisney

NOVOSIBIRSK, Russia , May 6, 2014 (Interfax Russia & CIS General Newswire ) – The Siberian Federal District reported 95 forest fires on 121,980.5 hectares on Tuesday, the district department of the Federal Forestry Agency (Rosleskhoz) said.

Most fires, 32 on 116,323 hectares, are burning in the Trans-Baikal territory.

There are also fires in Buryatia (three fires on 59 hectares), Tuva (four on 186.5 hectares), Khakassia (one on 30 hectares), the Krasnoyarsk territory (17 on 486.8 hectares), the Irkutsk region (37 on 4,703.2 hectares) and the Omsk region (one on 192 hectares).

Twenty-three forest fires were put out on 35,866 hectares in Tuva, the Irkutsk and Omsk regions and the Trans-Baikal territory.

Besides, 42 forest fires were confined to 24,980.8 hectares, among them 19 large fires confined to 24,446 hectares. The latter included seven fires on 20,515 hectares in the Trans-Baikal territory and twelve fires on 3,931 hectares in the Irkutsk region.

The total wildfire area in Siberia has reduced from 140,471 hectares to 121,980.5 hectares over the past 24 hours.

An emergency situation regime is in effect throughout the Trans-Baikal territory, Buryatia and one district of the Irkutsk region.

Some 2,143 foresters and smokejumpers, 402 fire engines and 31 aircraft were assigned on the firefighting mission.

Negligence of local residents and agricultural burnings caused most fires.

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