Wildfires in Russian Far East extinguished

Fire fighters have extinguished 78 wildfires that hit an area of 1,459 hectares (3,605 acres) in Russia's Far East on Tuesday, according to the Federal Forest Service, Rosleskhoz. The worst hit regions are the Komi Republic, Republic of Buryatia, Arkhangelsk and Irkutsk regions. The Primorye Territory in Russia's Far East introduced a special fire prevention regime on April 5, banning local residents from going to forests due to an increased danger of wildfires because of warm and dry weather. There are fears of a repeat of last year's disaster, when a massive drought and fires claimed 62 lives and devastated crops, which forced Russia last year to impose a ban on grains exports. The ban is expected to be lifted in July.