Wildfires threaten Siberian cities

MOSCOW, April 5 (UPI) -- Wildfires continue to rage in Russia's remote Siberian region of Khakassia threatening nearby cities, an official said.

Local emergency chief Irina Butenko said more than half of the region's cities are affected by the wildfires, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported Tuesday.

She said firefighters have been deployed dozens of times since the fires broke out last week.

Located in southern Siberia, Khakassia is home to Russia's largest hydroelectric plant where an accident in 2009 killed 75 people.

Khakassia is approximately 2,500 miles from Moscow.