Forest Fires Ravage Southern Russia, Prompting Evacuations

Over 50 forest fires have erupted in the Rostov region of southern Russia, driven by strong winds. According to Governor Vasily Golubev, the fires were sparked by downed power lines and human negligence. While 20 fires have been contained, more than 2,000 firefighters and 300 pieces of equipment are battling the blazes, which have forced evacuations as the flames threaten residential areas. In the nearby Voronezh region, 150 firefighters and 50 pieces of equipment were deployed to control the fires, successfully preventing their spread to local homes.