Forest fires numbers dwindle in Russia

In the last few days the number of forest fires in Russia has fallen, the RIA Novosti correspondent quotes the press service of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations as saying on Monday. At the present moment, 156 fires are on in fire-dangerous regions, while the number was twice as high last week.

Rains which have poured in recent days in Yakutia, Tyva and the Chita are naturally extinguishing forest fires. At the same time, 43 new hotbeds have sprung up, reports the Emergency Situations Ministry. In the last 24 hours they have destroyed 500 hectares of forestland.

Since the start of the fore-dangerous season, fires have passed through over 68,000 hectares.

Over 2,000 people, 324 machines and 30 aeroplanes have been involved in fire extinguishing work.