Deadly New Wildfires Flare in Eastern Siberia, “Triassic Weather” in U.S.

State of Emergency Declared in Siberia

Deadly new wildfires are raging in eastern Siberia claiming at least three lives in Zabaikal region, while many others have been killed in similar blazes further west, said local officials.

In Khakassia (southern Siberia), at least 23 people lost their lives and about 500 others were injured, many of them severely. The blazes have also destroyed more than 1,300 homes, killed thousands of farm animal.

Up to a 100 blazes in Zabaikal have incinerated tens of thousands of hectares of grassland and continue to burn uncontrollably.

See also:  Deadly Wildfires Devastate 30 Towns and Villages in Siberia

Critical fire weather conditions: Northern Plains, Rockies and Great Basin

The NWS Storm Prediction Center expects critical fire weather conditions to persist on Tuesday for portions of the Northern Plains into the Rockies and Great Basin. This critical fire weather threat is due to a combination of above normal temperatures, very gusty winds, and low relative humidity. Any fires that start in these areas will quickly spread and become hard to control.

Red Flag Warnings, Extreme Fire Danger, Fire Weather Watch, High Wind Warning, Gale Warning and Hazardous Weather Outlook and are in effect across portions of at least 20 states.

Fighting Continues in Ukraine…

Ukraine crises: 1,213,011 registered IDPs; 6,108 killed; 15,450 wounded  —MoSP

As of early April, at least 1,213,011 people in Ukraine have registered as IDPs across the country. Some 6,108 have been killed and 15,450 others wounded, according to the Ministry of Social Policy (MoSP).

Total number of Ukrainians who have sought asylum, residence permits or other forms of legal stay in neighboring countries currently stand at 777,355 including 636,544 in Russia and 80,994 in Belarus, reported UNHCR.

Meantime, rapidly increasing food prices has led to lower food consumption, severely affecting the lives of millions in the eastern oblasts of the country, said the report.

Access to social services, especially pension and salaries, remains suspended in the conflict-affected zone.

[The above figures do not include victims from renewed fighting in January and February, said the UN.]

Other highlights of the UN report

• At least 1,522 social facilities in need of restoration.
• An estimated472 schools have been damaged including at least 10 that have been fully destroyed in non-government controlled areas of Donetsk Oblast. A further eight schools have been closed.
• About 2,000 kilometers of water pipelines have been damaged/destroyed, according to Donbas Water Company. [Donbas region in eastern Ukraine comprises of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.]