Wildfire season starts in 74 Russian regions - emergencies ministry

MOSCOW. April 25 (Interfax) - Wildfires burning in 74 Russian regions have been recorded by Emergency Situations Ministry specialists using space monitoring systems and unmanned aerial vehicles, the ministry's press service said.

"Wildfires have been registered in 74 constituent territories this year. The wildfire season has begun in them," the press service said.

Emergency Situations Ministry personnel have conducted more than 25,000 onsite checks since the beginning of the year, it said. Burning dry grass was reported in 50% of all cases. Eighty percent of wildfires were man-made.

"Administrative penalties have also been imposed on more than 3,500 people," Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov was quoted by the press service as saying.

Since early 2024, the wildfire season has begun in 69 Russian regions and a fire alert, which bans visiting forests, has been declared in 23 regions, the ministry's press service said on Monday.