Russia Battles 222 Forest Fires Amid Unusually Hot Summer

Russia's state forest agency is tackling 222 forest fires across 20 regions, driven by an unusually hot summer. States of emergency are in place in Yakutia and Zabaikalsky. Environmental groups report that 8.8 million hectares have been destroyed this season as global temperatures rise due to climate change.

Russia's state forest agency announced on Thursday that it is combating 222 separate forest fires across 20 regions. An unusually hot summer has exacerbated the situation, leading to the destruction of millions of hectares of woodland in recent years.

The Federal Forest Management Agency stated that states of emergency have been declared in the far eastern Yakutia and Zabaikalsky regions because of the fires. Over 5,000 personnel are engaged in the firefighting efforts, according to a statement published on the Telegram messaging app.

Experts attribute the increasingly severe forest fire seasons in Russia to rising global temperatures caused by climate change. The environmental group The Earth Touches Everyone reported that 8.8 million hectares had been destroyed by July 17 this season. They also warned that the 2024 fire season might be worse than previous years, a prediction that seems to be coming true. In the heavily forested Yakutia region, local reports noted that fires had scorched over 930 hectares and approached within 10 km of the village Belaya Gora.

(With inputs from agencies.)