State of emergency after dozens of houses destroyed in fearsome wildfires in TransBaikal region

Spectacular steppe wildfires duelled by strong winds are threatening a growing number of villages in the remote Siberian region with at least 150 people estimated to be left without homes.

In Ust-Imalka village, more than half of the 66 residential buildings have been destroyed by the fires.

The latest figure was 34 razed in the inferno. The region is covered by thick palls of smoke from the out-of-control wildfires.

'Firefighters from (regional capital) Chita are heading to the village but it is at least a six-hour drive,’ reported local news website Chita.RU

'It makes things harder that there is no [mobile] network coverage.’

Around 90 people lost their houses in Unda village in Baleysky district.

They have been given temporary accommodation in a local 'House of Culture’.

The wildfires have also been registered around Krasnokamensk and Tockhin villages.

There is likely worse to come. 

‘Strong wind in TransBaikal region might worsen the situation with wildfires and lead to other negative consequences,’ warned the local Emergencies Ministry.

Acting governor Alexander Osipov assigned acting minister of labour and social care Evgeny Kazachenko to assist people whose properties were damaged in the wildfires.

'Those who lost their housing will be provided with social housing,’ he said.

'Acting deputy head of the regional government Andrei Gurulyov and head of civil security and fire safety department Fyodor Kurguzkin have been dispatched to the site to employ emergency measures and provide assistance to population in Ononsky, Olovyanninsky and Baleysky districts.’

According to satellite images, wildfires are burning in South TransBaikal. 

Residents of Chindant village in Borzinsky district  are also publishing videos showing wildfires in the village.

TASS reported that a state of emergency had been introduced in the region.