9 paratroopers killed combating wildfire in Siberia
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E-mail Xinhua, June 8, 2012
Nine firefighting paratroopers were killed Wednesday while trying to put out a wildfire in Russia's Siberia, federal authorities said.
Thirteen smokejumpers from the Russian Airborne Troops were dispatched to help extinguish the blaze, which erupted on a 500-hectare area in the Bairun-Khemchinsky forest district in Tuva republic, the Interfax news agency quoted the Russian Federal Forestry Agency as saying.
Four people came back from the scene, while the rest were killed, said the agency, adding that an investigation has been launched into the tragedy.
All of them had undergone training and had professional skills and experience, according to the federal body.
The wildfire poses no immediate threat to the Kara-Khol populated area, which is located 20 km away from the forest district, said the forestry agency.
A severe wildfire situation has developed in Tuva. The republic has been under a state of emergency since June 5, and federal authorities have sent about 100 firefighting paratroopers to help.
