Far East of Russia hit by 77 forest fires

As many as 77 forest fires are raging in the Far East of Russia, with 68 of them being on the territory of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), according to observers of the Far-Eastern base of aviation protection of forests and forestry.

The natural resources department on the Far-Eastern region reports that three fires are in the Khabarovsk Territory, with one of them having being localised.

Over the past weekend seven fires emerged again in the Magadan Region, and one in Chukotka.

"None of these fires is threatening populated areas. The situation is under control," Colonel Ratmir Gavrish, chief of the press service of the Far-Eastern Emergencies Ministry regional centre, told a RIA Novosti correspondent. "In no region has the emergency situation regime been declared in connection with the fires."