Massive fire engulfs 40 buildings in Russia's Ural region

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – A major fire broke out on Wednesday in the village of Shaydurikha in the Ural region in Russia’s west-central Sverdlovsk oblast, with flames still burning 40 buildings, officials said.

The Russian Emergency Ministry said a helicopter, 140 firefighters, and 46 pieces of equipment are working to put out the fire.

According to Valery Gorelykh, head of the Interior Ministry's regional office, the fire began at a tourist base not far from the village, but quickly spread to the settlement.

Initially, 13 buildings, including residential structures, caught fire. However, the number quickly rose to 27, and according to the latest data, it has now reached 40.

At the moment, there is no information about casualties, said the local authorities, which began evacuating residents from the village.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the local authorities.

The Ural Mountains divide Russia into western and eastern parts.