Forest burning on over 433,000 hectares in Yakutia - Russian Emergency Situations Ministry

YAKUTSK. Aug 21 (Interfax) - Sixty-eight wildfires are burning on more than 433,000 hectares in Yakutia, the press service for the Yakutia branch of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said.

"The fire zone grew over the day due to counter burning and expansion of fires in the monitored area. Russian Emergency Situations Ministry personnel are working in the Cheka-Byas village," the statement quoted branch head Pavel Garin as saying.

The fires are being fought by 1,556 men and 155 vehicles.

Satellite images show smoke in 47 communities of the Kobyaysky, Aldan, Verkhoyansk, Mirny, Tomponsky, Olyokminsk, Suntar, Namsky and Megino-Kangalassky districts and Yakutsk.

The allowable concentrations of nitrogen dioxide in the air have been exceeded in the Suntar village.

A rain inducing aircraft will be used in the Gorny district on Wednesday provided there are clouds, Yakutia Ecology, Nature Management and Forestry Deputy Minister Andrei Konoplyov said at a press briefing.

The wildfire season began in Yakutia on May 6. A federal emergency was declared on July 1. Wildfire alert is in effect throughout the republic.