Forest fire smoke reaches Yakutsk

A slight smoke contamination as a result of numerous forest fires raging in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is observed in Yakutsk on Thursday, the press service of the Russian Ministry for Emergencies (RME) center for the republic reported. Smoke reached the city by nine a. m. together with the north-westerly wind, an official at the Yakutsk department of the hydrometeo service specified. Weather forecasts have it that the north-westerly wind will keep blowing for the next three days and, therefore, smoke contamination in the city with a population of 270,000 may intensify. In view of that, the RME center for Yakutia recommends cityfolk to take measures to protect their breathing organs from the products of combustion to avoid smoke poisoning, limit strenuous activity and give up long walks. As of Thursday morning, 31 forest fires have been registered in Yakutia on an aggregate area of over 54,100 hectares. A regional state of emergency in the forests has been introduced throughout the republic. People are categorically forbidden to enter forests pending the lifting of the emergency regime.