OREANDA-NEWS 500 districts in 20 regions are in the zone of smoke, due to forest fires in Siberia, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Health reported to TASS. Previously, 24 regions were covered with smoke.

The situation improved slightly at the weekend, but in the Irkutsk Region, Altai Territory and Buryatia there is still smoke. The first deputy head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that a forest fire does not represent a large-scale threat, smoke brings trouble. It travels thousands of kilometers, worsens the quality of life even in large cities, makes it necessary to change the schedule of airports. Firefighting, according to the Deputy Minister of Emergencies does not pay off, especially on an area of ​​3 million hectares.

The grouping of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Agriculture is rapidly increased. Residents of Siberia are calling for a state of emergency.