Dozens of Russian cities have been shrouded in smoke as wildfires sweep across Siberia. Forest fires covering a huge area are being blamed on abnormally high temperatures and the neglect of fire-safety rules. Russia's Sakha Republic in northeastern Siberia, also known as Yakutia, has been the hardest hit. The Russian city of Yakutsk and 50 other Siberian towns and settlements have been covered by a thick haze from the flames.
Raging Wildfires Sweep Across Siberia, Shrouding Region In Smoke
- By RFE/RL
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A volunteer heads off to fight a forest fire in Russia's Yakutia region on July 17.
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A forest fire near the village of Magaras in the Yakutia region.
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Volunteers battle the flames in the Yakutia region.
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An aerial view of smoke from forest fires on July 17. The Russian military has used heavy-lift transport planes to douse the wildfires in Siberia. Russia's Defense Ministry said that military helicopters also dropped water to extinguish fires and carried firefighters into the area to try and stop them.
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An amphibious Beriev Be-200 aircraft sent by Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry drops water to extinguish a forest fire in Yakutia.
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Heavy earth-moving equipment was used to try and block the progress of the flames through a forest.
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Smoke covers a road as a forest fire burns near the village of Magaras.
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Smoke from forest fires shrouds Yakutsk, the capital of Russia's Sakha Republic, also known as Yakutia, on July 19.
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The wildfires have been burning for weeks. A satellite image shows large clouds of smoke enveloping the Yakutia region on July 5. According to Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry, more than 187 fires are currently burning and their area recently increased by more than 100,000 hectares since July 18.
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Another Beriev Be-200 aircraft drops its load of water.
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Firefighters and volunteers dig a control line during the fight against a forest fire on July 17.
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A forest fire near the village of Magaras.
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