15 May 2004 15:58
Seven people die in forest fires in western Siberia
[Presenter] Head of the [Russian] Emergencies Ministry Sergey Shoygu today flew out to Kurgan Region to supervise the
extinguishing of forest and steppe fires there. Interfax has reported that the fires broke out yesterday, some 17 km to
the northwest of Kurgan. There are six settlements in the emergency zone. Last night the fires had spread over an area
of 4,000 ha, and seven people have already been killed.
[Valeriy Molokanov, duty officer of the Russian Emergencies Ministry] A task force has been set up in the emergency
zone and the necessary equipment has been delivered there. Emergency Ministry aircraft are operating in the region,
including an Il-76 with a water storage facility and Mi-8 helicopters. The situation is now stable and the fires have
been contained. At present the situation is most difficult near the village of Ikovka and the main forces and equipment
have already been transferred there.
[Presenter] According to the latest information, about 400 residential houses and two buildings belonging to a
children's home have been destroyed by the fires. Over 600 people have been evacuated from the area. The situation
is complicated by high temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius and strong winds.
[NTV Mir] |
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