An elderly woman in Russia’s Far East died on Sunday after suffering serious burns in a wildfire, the head of the village of Tygda said on Monday.
According to recent figures, two people died when the fire destroyed 83 houses in the village. A total of 346 people received injuries of varying degrees.
“The woman, born in 1935, suffered third-degree burns and was taken to hospital in critical condition. Doctors fought for her life, but she died on Sunday,” village head Nikolai Mamutin told RIA Novosti.
The dry winter, the early onset of warm weather and strong winds, as well as the locals’ habit of burning away old grass in the spring have resulted in an unusual amount of wildfires across Siberia and the Far East this month.
A total of 13 wildfire hotspots were extinguished in the Far East, while 12 are still raging in the area as of Monday morning, the regional forest authority said. A total of 373 people, 108 vehicles and four aircraft are involved in firefighting efforts.
