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

By 0 and 0 and 0
19 April 2019

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'Strong wind in TransBaikal region might worsen the situation with wildfires and lead to other negative consequences.' Picture: chita_news

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’.

Unda village


Unda village


Unda village


Unda village


Unda village


Unda village

Around 90 people lost their houses in Unda village in Baleysky district. Pictures: Region-75, chita_news

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.’

Wildfires from the satellite

Satellite images of fires. Picture: Tayga.info

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. 

Spectacular steppe wildfires duelled by strong winds are threatening a growing number of villages in the remote Siberian region. Pictures: Region-75, chita_news

TransBaikal wildfires


TransBaikal wildfires


TransBaikal wildfires


Olovyannaya settlement

Comments (6)

TO ALL THEY LOST EVERYTHING MAY BE WITH THEM IN THIS HARD TIME
BRIAN MASIKANE, KZN GREY TOWN
02/05/2019 12:00
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Is this place a gateway to the Silk Road?
mickael,
29/04/2019 01:58
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So sad to see this tragedy in your towns and communities. I hope your local, district, and national government aid departments can bring you the immediate needed assistance of food, water, clothing, and housing. If they do not respond I hope fellow neighboring people in your areas can help you get back on your feet again. This is a crushing thing to happen to anyone and we must help each other when these things occur. May God bless you and your recovery efforts.
Ed , Prescott, Arizona, US
21/04/2019 11:20
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NOW PEOPLE IN EUROPE WAKE UP AND HELP THESE PEOPLE THEY HAVE LOST EVERYTHING THEY HAD. I BELIEVE THAT IF PEOPLE CAN GIVE CLOTHES AND EVERY KIND OF SUPPLY PUTIN WOULD SEND A PLANE TO TAKE TAKE ALL WHAT PEOPLE COLLECT IN ALL EUROPE. WHEN THERE IS EMERGENCY PEOPLE MUST HELP!!!!
Leiah Sariell, Lapland Finland
23/04/2019 03:48
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lets just hope that the help will be fast and unbureocratic. but that there will be also no misuse. and an old half fallen down hovel will be claimed as - just newly renovated family home-. help should be for people who need help. and not for these who will be trying to make money out of a tragedy.
MORAK Benedikjt, Moscow
20/04/2019 05:45
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Strong winds can blow burning embers over ravines and across ridges more than a kilometer away from the source of the fire line. The burning embers lodge in house eves and siding and then the house is on fire.The cedar fences in the photos are both highly flammable and create many hundreds of airborne burning embers. I watched it happen six months ago when the city of Paradise, California burned to the ground in four hours. Best regards to the fire refugees.
Higain, Northern California
20/04/2019 02:54
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