Wildfires engulf over 1 million hectares of Yakutia's Forests

The vast wilderness of Yakutia, a remote region in northeastern Russia, is currently grappling with an unprecedented crisis as raging wildfires consume over 1 million hectares of its pristine forests. According to Report, which cites the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, a staggering 132 forest fires have been recorded in the area, with the affected land surpassing the 1 million hectare mark.

In a desperate attempt to control the flames, 1,960 firefighters are tirelessly working alongside 222 specialized vehicles. Over the past 24 hours, they have successfully extinguished six fires spanning 23,000 hectares and localized three more fires covering an area of over 15,000 hectares.

Some 193 tons of water were utilized in the past day alone. However, despite the relentless efforts of the firefighters, the situation in Yakutia has only worsened throughout July. The most severe fires have been reported in the Abyysky, Olekminsky, Vilyuysky, Verkhnevilyuysky, and Verkhoyansk districts.