A search for three firefighters lost in the forest has begun in Transbaikalia.

In the Tungokochen district of Transbaikalia, a large-scale search was launched for three firefighters who were lost in the forest. This was reported to Izvestia on Wednesday, April 30, by the Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the region.

Three employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations went to the village of Kyker for groceries on April 23, but did not return. It is specified that their disappearance was reported to law enforcement officers only five days later — on April 28.

The last time the missing men, born in 1995, 2001 and 2002, were seen, they were driven to the Shemker River on their way back to the brigade.

"The search was conducted using helicopters," the district administration told Izvestia.

They also added that to date, 40 people have been involved in the operation, including the police, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and local residents. In addition, it is planned to involve dog handlers and quadrocopters in the search, but due to the weather conditions, this is not yet possible.

Large-scale searches are underway in the Tungokochen district of Transbaikalia, where three firefighters were lost in the forest on April 23. It is known that the men went to the village of Kyker for groceries, but did not return to the brigade.

Fiery response: the number of forest fires has increased tenfold in Russia

A state of emergency has been introduced in three regions.

On April 25, it was reported that in the Trans-Baikal Territory, since the beginning of wildfires, the Ministry of Emergency Situations has protected 30 settlements from the passage of fire. Specialists were able to eliminate the flame on 52 hectares and stop its spread in the village of Zhireken.