A state of emergency was declared in Karelia on Wednesday, July 30, due to extensive forest fires. The decree, signed by the head of the republic, Artur Parfenchikov, establishes a regional level of response to the escalating situation.

The emergency zone encompasses the forest fund within the Muezersky and Loukhsky municipal districts. Authorities are mobilizing resources to combat the blazes.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations for Karelia has been instructed to involve various personnel in extinguishing the fires. This includes forces from the territorial subsystem of the Unified State System for Prevention and Liquidation of Emergency Situations, municipal resources, volunteers, and ordinary citizens.

In an effort to manage the crisis, a ban on visiting forests in the Muezersky and Loukhsky municipal districts is in effect until August 5, 2025, inclusive. This measure aims to prevent further incidents and ensure public safety.

Prior to the declaration, regional government reports indicated that 24 forest fires were actively being extinguished in Karelia, with only five contained. Data from July 29 revealed that over 400 hectares of forest were ablaze in the republic.

To bolster firefighting efforts, a specialized fire train has been dispatched to Karelia. The train carries 180 tons of water and four tons of foam concentrate, providing crucial resources to combat the widespread fires.