167 forest fires raging in Russia

167 forest fires are raging in Russia.

Last day saw 50 new hotbeds, fire covered about 6,000 hectares, said the Russian emergency ministry's press service to RIA Novosti on Friday.

Yakutia, East Siberia, is in the most serious situation. It has the largest number of registered fires, 58, 22 of them are large. Over the last 24 hours fire covered 4,355 hectares.

In the Far East, 20 fires are raging in the Magadan region and 18 in Kamchatka. 22 fires are registered in the Komi Republic, North of Russia's European part.

1,982 people, 52 aircraft and 258 ground vehicles are involved in extinguishing the fires.