Officials resort to artificial rain to tackle raging wildfires in Siberia
Fires have wreaked havoc this summer with Yakutia and the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous the latest to be hard hit.
24
July 2017
Clouds
are being spiked with a special compound over remote areas of Yakutia
to force rain in forest infernos
Clouds
are being spiked with a special compound over remote areas of Yakutia
to force rain in forest infernos.
The
skies are cannoned from An-26 planes with silver iodide or liquid
nitrogen by forestry fire fighters, provoking 50 minutes of rain
across a 30 kilometre area.
An
18,000 hectare fire in Viluisky district is being targeted, some 425
kilometres northwest of regional capital Yakutsk.
Firefighters
are also using explosives to remove obstacles and build mineral lines
to block the spread of fires.
Yakutia
has some 12 wildfires.
The city of Yakutsk covered in smoke. Pictures: Yakutsk.ru
In
Yamalo-Nenets officials reported 47 wildfires across 2,097
hectares after a blast of hot weather.
Last
year, deadly anthrax - previously frozen in the permafrost - was
released causing health hazards to humans and reindeer. The region
has called for help from neighbouring governors due to the fast
spread of the wildfires.
Local
governor Dmitry Kobylkin said: 'The temperature in the region is
extreme. The situation will remain the same for some time.
'We
are now engaging all possible additional resources. We've asked
neighbouring regions about additional firefighters, Yekaterinburg has
already replied.
'We
understand that situation is intensive everywhere.
'We
are also waiting for significant help for Rosleskhoz and
Avialesokhrana.'
Wildfires in Yakutia. Pictures: YSIA.ru
Emergency
measures are in place in 17 regions and republics in Siberia and the
Russian Far East.
Locals
in many regions say the summer forest fires are are worse each year
as temperatures rise.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.