Kriushi: a Russian village burnt down by wildfire

Wildfires in the Ryazan Region have left almost 700 people without a roof over their heads. Several villages in the Ryazan and Spas-Klepiki districts of the Ryazan Region have been razed to the ground by the fires, with over 200 houses destroyed. One such village is Kriushi.

The concentration of smoke over Ryazan is reaching a critical level. The districts affected by the fires are located to the north of the city, along the highway connecting Ryazan and Vladimir. Forests line the highway and visibility on the road is below ten meters, so the few cars have to drive with their headlights on.

On Friday, July 30, a gust of wind fanned fires into a conflagration that consumed the village of Kriushi in the Spas-Klepiki District.

The fire has left 125 people homeless. Most have gone to stay with relatives and friends, but eight people are staying at the village hospital, which locals managed to save from the fire.

Locals say the evacuation was poorly organized. It was every man for himself.

Many did not manage to save their documents from their burning houses.

Like everyone affected by the wildfires, the residents of Kriushi are eligible for compensation of 200,000 rubles ($6670) per person. None of the victims knows what they will spend this money on yet. The most important thing now is to find temporary housing and rebuild the houses that were destroyed.

Chimneys are all that remains of the village.

All the wells in the village have dried up because of the hot weather.

Some still hold out hope of finding their belongings in the ruins of the fire.