A major fire is raging in the Chornobyl exclusion zone, and the blaze is spreading because of dry weather

Firefighters are extinguishing a large-scale forest fire in the exclusion zone of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

This was reported by Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.

Due to strong gusts of wind, the fire is spreading rapidly across the area, covering new sections of the forest. The estimated area of the fire has already exceeded 1,100 hectares.

The situation is being worsened by dry weather, strong winds, and the danger of mines in certain parts of the territory, which significantly limits firefighting operations. In some forest sections, work has been temporarily suspended because of the threat posed by explosive objects.

Units of the State Emergency Service, special equipment, and personnel from other services have been deployed to extinguish the fire. Rescuers are working in an intensified mode.

As a reminder, in the spring of 2020, a major fire raged near Chornobyl and could not be extinguished for a long time.

As a result, 5% of the Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve burned. Some groups of plants were destroyed or damaged, and rodents, reptiles, amphibians, and insects were affected.