Siberian residents unite as wildfires overwhelm authorities
Siberia is once again grappling with a wave of fires that are impacting the region's residents. In the absence of support from the authorities, Russians are making efforts to save their homes and belongings independently.
April has brought hurricanes to Siberia, affecting areas such as Kuzbass, the Altai Republic, Khakassia, Novosibirsk, and Irkutsk. According to the Onet service, strong winds have caused power and water outages and have led to dust storms that have exacerbated the fires. Recalling the tragedy of 2015, residents are organising themselves to battle the elements.
Many residents, like Valentina, have lost their homes. A fire that began at a neighbour's property swiftly spread to hers. "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 firefighting impossible. Valentina's family lost everything they had recently renovated.
Oksana, another resident, remembers 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 have promised financial support for the victims, but residents are unsure whether they will receive it. Valentina fears that her husband's high earnings might result in them being denied compensation. She reported visiting the mayor's office, where officials promised temporary housing, but she added, "there are no such apartments yet."
In the absence of government support, residents are organising themselves. Vladimir, one of the victims, describes how over 100 people from nearby villages came to help extinguish 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 show extraordinary solidarity and determination in fighting the elements. The authorities in Khakassia assure that the situation is under control, but the residents understand that they can primarily rely on themselves.
