Chernobyl forest fire ‘under control’ – Ukraine PM
Ukraine’s prime minister says a major forest fire that threatened to spread to the abandoned Chernobyl nuclear plant zone is under control.
More than 300 firefighters, three planes and a helicopter were deployed as high winds pushed the blaze towards Chernobyl.
There were fears the fire could increase radiation levels as it spread through forests, still contaminated by radioactive particles from the 1986 disaster, towards the nuclear site.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk said that as of 12:45pm (9:45am GMT) “the fires have been localised and contained. The radiation levels are normal.” He added that it was the biggest wildifre in Ukraine since 1992.
Yesterday Ukraine’s Minister for Internal Affairs, Arsen Avakov, said there was “reasonable suspicion” that the fire was started deliberately.
He said that overnight the strong winds stopped, giving emergency services the chance to contain the fire.
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Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk said that as of 12:45pm (9:45am GMT) “the fires have been localised and contained. The radiation levels are normal.” He added that it was the biggest wildifre in Ukraine since 1992.
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Yesterday Ukraine’s Minister for Internal Affairs, Arsen Avakov, said there was “reasonable suspicion” that the fire was started deliberately.
He said that overnight the strong winds stopped, giving emergency services the chance to contain the fire.
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