Two gunpowder depots burn down in Sverdlovsk wildfires. The city of Asbest has lost water and power.

A number of areas across Russia’s Sverdlovsk region have declared states of emergency due to wildfires. Publication Ekaterinburg Online writes that, as of May 7, 55 fires, covering a total area of 35,000 hectares (around 86,500 acres), have been recorded in the region.

On the evening of May 6, a forest fire in the village of Pervomaysky spread into gunpowder warehouses belonging to the Gefest-M company. Two warehouses burned down, and the fire threatened another 18 buildings where explosives are stored.

More than 1,000 people were evacuated from numerous settlements, including the villages of Pervomaysky and Krasnoarmeysky.

Four large fires covering 7,200 hectares (17,800 acres) are currently burning near the city of Asbest, and residents there are without water or electricity following incidents at local water and electrical utilities.

According to Rospotrebnadzor, Russia’s federal human wellbeing monitor, the fires have caused air pollution in the region to soar past harmful levels. Many towns are shrouded in smoke. Doctors have advised residents to keep their windows shut and to go outside only with masks and respirators.

Sverdlovsk governor Evgeny Kuyvashev called the situation critical and asked for federal help fighting the fires. 4,000 volunteer firefighters from Sverdlovsk and other regions are working alongside members of emergency services and Russia’s National Guard.