Russia is currently battling one of its worst wildfire seasons in recent memory, with the Ural Mountains and Siberia bearing the brunt of the disaster. The wildfires, which have been raging for over a week, have so far claimed the lives of at least 21 people, according to reports from local media outlets and the UK’s Guardian newspaper.
Most of the victims are said to be elderly residents who were unable to flee their homes as the fires spread rapidly through the countryside. The Guardian cited reports from the Kurgan region and other parts of Siberia, where the fires have been burning unchecked for days.
One of the worst-hit areas has been the village of Yuldus, located near the border with Siberia. On July 7th, several people were killed there as the flames swept through the village, leaving many homes and buildings in ruins. Meanwhile, in the nearby town of Tyumen, a local resident lost his life while attempting to help firefighters battle the blaze.
The situation in the affected areas remains dire, with over 5,000 buildings reportedly destroyed in the Kurgan region alone. The Guardian noted that a state of emergency has been declared in the region, and warned that the death toll could rise further if the fires continue to spread.
The wildfires have also had a broader impact on the region, with smoke and ash drifting as far as Kazakhstan and Mongolia. The European Union’s Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS) has warned that the fires are affecting air quality and could have serious environmental consequences.
Russia has experienced an unusually hot and dry summer this year, which has contributed to the severity of the wildfires. The Guardian noted that the 2021 wildfires in Siberia were the largest on record, surpassing even the damage caused by wildfires in Greece, Turkey, Italy, the United States, and Canada combined.
The Russian government has pledged to take action to address the crisis, but many locals are calling for more support and resources to be directed to the affected regions. As the fires continue to rage, the people of Russia’s Ural Mountains and Siberia are facing an uncertain and perilous future.
