Russia: Wildfires spread in Siberia, Khakasia toll at 30
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 17 April 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russia: Wildfires spread in Siberia, Khakasia toll at 30, 17 April 2015, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/5565ba0715.html [accessed 27 June 2017] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
April 17, 2015
Wildfires continued to spread in Siberia as the death toll from blazes in the Khakasia region reached 30.
Russia's Siberian Federal District Forestry Department said on April 17 that wildfires were burning on more than 118 thousand hectares of land.
More than 1,500 houses in the southern Siberian region of Khakasia have burned down since April 12, leaving at least 5,000 people homeless.
Officials in Khakasia said on April 17 that the death toll from fires there had risen to 30 and the two people were reported missing.
In a video shown during Vladimir Putin's televised question and answer session on April 16, a woman from Khakasia burst into tears while begging for help the Russian president to help the region's people who lost their households.
Evacuations, casualties, and damage from wildfires have been reported in other Siberian regions including Altai, Amur, Buryatia, Tyva, Zabaikalye, Krasnoyarsk, and Irkutsk.
Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
