Chernobyl: A massive forest fire broke out in the Chernobyl ‘exclusion zone’ in Ukraine, Anadolu Agency reported citing the country’s State Emergency Service. Authorities said strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly across more than 1,100 hectares (2,718 acres).
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Chernobyl is known for the 1986 explosion and fire that led to a major nuclear disaster. In a statement, the State Emergency Service said that firefighting efforts in some forested areas have been temporarily suspended because of the threat posed by explosive objects.
The statement highlighted that the situation is complicated by dry weather, strong winds, and mine hazards in certain areas, which significantly limit firefighting efforts. Units from the State Emergency Service, along with specialized equipment and personnel from other agencies, have been deployed to contain the blaze.
Rescuers are actively working to prevent the fire from spreading further, focusing their efforts on ensuring that the blaze does not reach more hazardous locations within the exclusion zone.
Source: Azerbaijan State News Agency