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Putin demands punishment of officials for neglecting wildfire prevention

Xinhua, April 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday gave the order to punish officials whose negligence has led to the recent disastrous wildfires in southern Siberia.

During a snap tea party with survivors of the fires in the capital of the Republic of Khakassia, Abakan, Putin instructed investigators to find out whether the disaster could have been avoided in the first place.

"Let's see who did what regarding fire prevention," the president said.

Results of a preliminary investigation showed the fires had been caused by reckless forest burning in the dry and windy weather.

Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Puchkov on Monday blamed local residents for the widespread fires because farmers customarily burn grass.

Putin also ordered relevant authorities to complete the disaster relief job by Sept.1 and promised to visit Khakassia once again to see how the relief measures are implemented.

"Reconstruction should be completed by Sept. 1, so that by winter, people will have a roof over their heads and children can go to school," he said.

According to an online statement from the Kremlin, the devastating fires that broke out on April 12 have killed 34 people and displaced some 2000 families. Endi