10:00, 14 March 2013

Forest is still on fire in Untsukul District

In the Untsukul District of Dagestan, after a special operation conducted there, the forest is still on fire, said Rasul Yakubov, the head of the village of Balakhani. Local residents fear that the fire might soon approach the settlements.

"The pine forest behind the village is on fire; so far, there's no danger to human life or buildings. But this is a great damage to nature. Villagers went to the fire and tried to extinguish it, but could not. Fire-trucks can't drive up there," Rasul Yakubov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"The fire can't reach us – it's too far; however, the damage to the environment and people is huge. It's not the first fire of this sort. Herdsmen from the villages of Maidanskoe, Zirani, Balakhani and Kharachi complain that pastures for sheep and cattle are destroyed," says one of the villagers.

According to another local resident, some 2.5-3 hectares have already burned down.

Author: Aida Magomedova, Karina Gadjieva

Source: CK correspondents