Huge Siberia wildfires kill 17 people
14 April 2015 10:53 PM GMT
Seventeen people died and more than 460 sought medical treatment after wildfires blamed on adults who had “played with matches” swept through Siberia, authorities said on Monday.
More than 5,000 rescue workers battled through the night to contain the blazes in the region of Khakassia in southeastern Siberia where 15 people died.
Fires also raged in eastern Siberia claiming two lives, authorities said, citing only preliminary information.
President Vladimir Putin personally coordinated the work of emergencies services in Khakassia, his spokesman said.
The authorities blamed the fire on human carelessness, with people setting dry grass ablaze amid
warm temperatures and high winds.
“This fire would not have happened if no one played with matches,” said deputy emergencies minister Alexander Chupriyan, referring to the fires that raged through Kakhassia yesterday.
“And it was adults and not children who did this.”
National television said the fires were so intense they could be seen from space broadcasting satellite imagery of hotspots and saying flames reached some three meters high.
A total of 468 people were hurt and 77 people were hospitalised, said a spokeswoman for the regional authorities, Irina Emelianova.
Of those hospitalised, eight were in a critical condition, said Emelianova, adding that one person was missing.
“The temperature on Sunday was 25 degrees Celsius and there were also storm winds,” she told AFP.
“This combination caused the fires,” she added. “We have never had this before.” More than 30 villages have been affected, she added.
Authorities said the region sustained “huge damage” as a result of the blazes.
At least 700 cattle and some 3,000 sheep had perished, they said in a statement.
More than 5,000 rescue workers battled through the night to contain the blazes in the region of Khakassia in southeastern Siberia where 15 people died.
Fires also raged in eastern Siberia claiming two lives, authorities said, citing only preliminary information.
President Vladimir Putin personally coordinated the work of emergencies services in Khakassia, his spokesman said.
The authorities blamed the fire on human carelessness, with people setting dry grass ablaze amid
warm temperatures and high winds.
“This fire would not have happened if no one played with matches,” said deputy emergencies minister Alexander Chupriyan, referring to the fires that raged through Kakhassia yesterday.
“And it was adults and not children who did this.”
National television said the fires were so intense they could be seen from space broadcasting satellite imagery of hotspots and saying flames reached some three meters high.
A total of 468 people were hurt and 77 people were hospitalised, said a spokeswoman for the regional authorities, Irina Emelianova.
Of those hospitalised, eight were in a critical condition, said Emelianova, adding that one person was missing.
“The temperature on Sunday was 25 degrees Celsius and there were also storm winds,” she told AFP.
“This combination caused the fires,” she added. “We have never had this before.” More than 30 villages have been affected, she added.
Authorities said the region sustained “huge damage” as a result of the blazes.
At least 700 cattle and some 3,000 sheep had perished, they said in a statement.
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