Forest fires have reached the town of Gelendzhik, one of Russia's most popular resort areas on the Black Sea, local officials said. The mayor of Gelendzhik, Aleksei Bogodistov, said in a Telegram post on August 30 that 441 people, more than 80 vehicles, and firefighting planes and helicopters had been deployed to fight the fires, which now cover 118 hectares. The fire started the night before near a safari park where animals -- including lions, tigers, and bears -- are kept. According to a park employee, the fire and smoke did not reach the animals. To read the original story by RFE/RL’s Russian Service, click here.
