Russia's Yakutia declares wildfire emergency

MOSCOW. June 28 (Interfax) - The authorities of Russia's internal republic of Yakutia have declared a wildfire emergency, the republic's Deputy Minister of Ecology Andrei Konoplyov said at a press briefing of the operative headquarters.

"A wildfire emergency has been declared across Yakutia on the orders from the regional emergencies commission," he said.

The number of wildfires raging in Yakutia has grown to 60 amid thunderstorms.

The first wildfires of the year were reported from Yakutia in mid-May. Yakutia saw a decade high of almost 8.5 million hectares on fire in 2021. Experts are predicting yet another hot summer for Yakutia this year.