Forests burning on over 375,000 hectares in Yakutia - Russian Emergency Situations Ministry

YAKUTSK. Aug 27 (Interfax) - Thirty wildfires are burning on over 375,000 hectares in Russia's Republic of Yakutia, the republic's branch of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said.

"The wildfire situation is the most difficult in the Verkhnevilyuisk, Verkhoyansk, Abiy, Olekminsk and Vilyuisk districts. [...] There is no smoke in communities of the region," a statement quoted branch head Pavel Garin as saying.

Fourteen fires were put out on around 17,700 hectares, and ten fires were contained on more than 155,800 hectares over the day. Some 876 specialists and 75 vehicles fought the fires.

Three wildfires are raging near communities, it said. A forest is burning on 2,280 hectares 8.1 kilometers from the village of Milyake in the Suntar district. A fire was contained on five hectares 7.5 kilometers from the village of Kobyai in the Kobyai district. A fire is burning on 115 hectares 9.3 kilometers from the village of Orget in the Verkhnevilyuisk district.

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