Fires destroy more than 6,000 hectares of vegetation in Moldova in last 24 hours

Chisinau, 25 March /MOLDPRES/ - Vegetation fires on 24 March burned up 6,055 hectares of land and 17,127 hectares have been destroyed since early 2022.   

According to data by the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU), in the last 24 hours, institution’s employees liquidated 341 hotbeds of fire in more settlements of Moldova. Fires destroyed one hectare of land in Rascani. The fire hit five auxiliary constructions and three households and partially another two auxiliary constructions, including 80 per cent of a roof of an abandoned house.     

In the Petresti village, western Ungheni district, firemen fought for hours with fire on a plot of land of 350 hectares; in the central Criuleni district, a fire compromised 150 hectares of dry grass in the Pascani settlement. At the same time, firemen’s intervention was needed in the south-eastern Causeni district, Tocuz settlement. The fire destroyed 140 hectares of dry grass here, while in the central Ialoveni district, firemen extinguished fire on 100 hectares of vegetation nearby the Molesti village.      

IGSU repeatedly warns residents about the risk of non-observance of the anti-fire rules in conditions of low humidity and wind. The hotbeds of fire can quickly extend and can turn into very big fires, hitting forests, farmlands, as well as the dwellings’ sector.   

In the context of fires’ prevention, President Maia Sandu informed that she would ask the parliament to urgently introduce tougher sanctions for the triggering of vegetation fires, including the deprivation of the economic agents guilty of these disasters from assistance on behalf of the state.

„Moldova stifles in smoke and this actually criminal practice pollutes the environment, causes material damages and makes victims. All these fires, which destroy hundreds of hectares of lands and woodlands and which threaten more settlements, were caused by people. I ask the parliament to urgently introduce much tougher sanctions for this kind of offences,’’ reads a message by the head of state.   

Photo: Presidency