28 Apr 2020 10:38

Forest fires burning on over 60,000 hectares in Russia - Aerial Forest Protection Service

MOSCOW. April 28 (Interfax) - The area of forest fires in Russia has grown 1.5-fold in the past 24 hours, reaching a total of 60,414 hectares, the Russian Federal Aerial Forest Protection Service (Avialesookhrana) said.

"As of 12:01 a.m. Moscow time on April 28, 2020, 75 forest fires are burning on an area of 60,414 hectares in the territory of the Russian Federation. Active measures are underway to extinguish them," it said.

The area in Russia stricken by forest fires totaled 43,161 hectares on Monday.

As many as 170 forest fires on an area of 10,021 hectares have been put out in the past 24 hours, Avialesookhrana said. The Trans-Baikal Territory is worst hit by forest fires, which are burning on 27,033 hectares there, the service said.