Large forest fire breaks out in Ukraine's Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

KIEV, May 8 (Xinhua): A forest fire covering 1,100 hectares has broken out at the Exclusion Zone around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the State Service for Emergencies said on Friday.

 The blaze is spreading rapidly due to strong winds, dry weather, and the presence of landmines, which have significantly hampered firefighting efforts, the agency said in a statement.

 Units of the state emergency service, along with personnel from other agencies, have been deployed to contain the fire.

 According to the Interior Ministry, as of 11 a.m. local time (0800 GMT), the radiation situation in Ukraine remains stable, with gamma radiation levels within normal limits.

 Firefighting operations are ongoing.

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant, located about 110 km north of Kiev, was the site of one of the worst nuclear disasters in history on April 26, 1986. The 30-km area surrounding the plant was subsequently designated as the Exclusion Zone.