Authorities in Russia’s Sakha Republic (Yakutia) reported two new wildfires in the past day—one forest fire (2.6 ha) and one landscape fire (6 ha)—in Megino-Kangalassky District and within Yakutsk. Officials say five natural fires totaling 40 ha have already been extinguished this season, with human activity cited as the main cause.

The total area of active forest fires in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) grew from 265 ha to 1,462.5 ha on July 22, with 10 fires being fought by 306 personnel and 14 units of equipment.

Sakha is now the fourth region in the Far East where a state of emergency is currently in place due to wildfires. The other three are the Zabaykalsky and Amur regions, as well as the republic of Buryatia. Russia’s wildfire season officially began in early March. By mid-April, regions in the Far East recorded nearly twice as many fires as they had during the same period last year, with most blazes caused by human negligence.

Russia's Aerial Forest Protection Service is trying to suppress 136 fires over 43,000 hectares. Firefighters are using explosives to contain the fires and seeding clouds with silver iodide to encourage rain.