The number of wildfires in Siberia increased to 68 seats; flames engulfed 16,156 hectares. Out of the total, 18 fires over an area of 933.5 ha have been localized, Itar-Tass learnt this morning from the press service of the Siberian regional centre of the Russian Ministry for Emergencies. Forests are burning in the Trans-Baikal Territory, the Novosibirsk Region as well as the Buryatia and Tuva republics. "The most difficult situation is in the Trans-Baikal Territory. Five large fires are raging there over an area of 14,988 hectares. One of them over 500 hectares has been localized. There is no danger of flames leaping to villages," the press service explained. The ministry points to special climatic conditions of the area, caused by sunny, windy (up to 25 m/sec) and draughty weather as the main reasons for forest fires in the Trans-Baikal Territory. "Uncontrolled agricultural sites of fire as well as insufficient attention of local bodies of self-rule to questions of preventive measures against forest fires as well as absence of the organizing role and due control over the fire-prone situation in districts of the territory also promote a rise in the number of flare-ups and the area of spreading fires," the ministry noted.
