Wildfire in Russian Federation

In Russia's Far East, a federal state of emergency has been declared in the Republic of Sakha, also known as Yakutia due to ongoing wildfires across the region.

More than 40 wildfires were reported to be burning in Sakha, according to regional authorities, engulfing a total area of some 830 square kilometers — roughly the size of Berlin or New York.

Sakha is now the fourth region in the Far East where a state of emergency is currently in place due to wildfires. The other three are the Zabaykalsky and Amur regions, as well as the republic of Buryatia.

By declaring a state of emergency, the region will gain access to critical resources and personnel from the federal government to help local emergency responders and volunteer firefighters battle the blazes.

Experts have warned that limited resources for fire prevention and control, along with ongoing practices such as dry grass burning, risk turning this year's wildfire season in Russia into a crisis.