Rescuers halve Russian area on fire

Rescuers and firefighters have reduced the nationwide area on fire from 18,000 hectares to 11,000 hectares by August 1, however new wildfires threaten the country, RIA Novosti reported.

Meteorologists say that strong wind is possible soon and it may cause new series of fire.

Wildfires raging in central Russia due to abnormally hot weather have claimed 30 lives, left 2,210 people homeless and caused damages worth over 4.6 billion rubles ($150 million), the Ministry for Regional Development said on Sunday.

The wildfires have affected 14 Russian regions, destroyed a total of 1,875 homes, with the largest destructions observed in the Nizhny Novgorod, Voronezh and Ryazan regions, the ministry said, citing data as of late July 31.

Russian servicemen have declared war to the disaster. On August 1, servicemen have completely installed a pipeline in Yegorievsk district, Moscow region. A pipeline in Shatura district, Moscow region is still under construction, but both of them already carry water to fire-damaged areas. Each of the pipelines can deliver up to 3,000 cubic meters of water per day.

The firefighting unit in Voronezh region has been expanded from 1,800 to 3,000 people. Two Emergencies Ministry's aircraft Il-76 Candid and Mi-8 Hip helicopter as well as 500 units of equipment are engaged in smothering fire in the region. The area on fire in Voronezh region has been reduced from 3,200 hectares to 2,200 hectares over the last days.

On Sunday, homeless fire victims from Voronezh region received 20,000 rubles ($660) in compensation.