Siberians unite in battle as wildfires ravage the region
Siberia is once again facing a wave of fires, affecting the region's residents. In the absence of support from the authorities, Russians are striving to save their homes and belongings on their own.
April brought hurricanes to Siberia, impacting areas including Kuzbass, the Altai Republic, Khakassia, Novosibirsk, and Irkutsk. According to the Onet service, strong winds caused power and water outages, as well as dust storms that contributed to the fires. Remembering the tragedy of 2015, residents have organized themselves to combat the elements.
Many residents, such as Valentina, have lost their homes. A fire that started at a neighbor's quickly spread to her property. "We saw a large ember or flame flying — the house went up in flames," she recounted, as quoted by Onet. The fire department arrived late and without water, making effective extinguishing impossible. Valentina's family lost everything they had recently renovated.
Oksana, another resident, recalls the dramatic moments when her house caught fire. "When I ran out to the street, everything was in flames, the dog was barking desperately — it died in its kennel before my children's eyes," she recounts.
Authorities promise help but do not act
The authorities promise financial support for the victims, but residents are unsure if they will receive it. Valentina fears that her husband's high earnings might be the reason for denying compensation. She reported that she went to the mayor's office, officials promised to provide temporary housing, but as she added, "there are no such apartments yet."
In the absence of support from the authorities, residents are organizing themselves. Vladimir, one of the victims, describes how over 100 people from nearby villages came to help put out the fires. "People have become aware of this. They don't expect someone else to come. Everyone takes whatever they can, any improvised equipment, even empty buckets," his words are quoted by Onet.
Despite the challenging conditions, Siberian residents demonstrate extraordinary solidarity and determination in battling the elements. The authorities in Khakassia assure that the situation is under control, but the residents know that they can primarily rely on themselves.
