A state of emergency has been declared in the Lithuanian western Neringa Municipality on the Curonian Spit due to a spreading fire on the peninsula, which is a Site of a UNESCO World Heritage.

A call about the fire was received at around 11.55 am.

Having arrived at the scene, Minister of the Interior Dailis Alfonsas Barakauskas told the fire has engulfed 35 ha.

12 firefighter's vehicles are involved in the fire-extinguishing operation, assisted by a Mi-8 helicopter of the Armed Forces. According to the minister, Latvia has been asked to send one more helicopter.

Due to the fire, power supply has been shut down on the whole peninsula.

A huge fire broke out on the Curonian Spit in May, 2006. It was put down only after five days and the fire destroyed over 200 hectares of forest.

SHOTLIST:

Scene of fire

Soundbite (Lithuanian), DAILIS ALFONSAS BARAKAUSKAS, minister of interior:
We are waiting for soldiers from Latvia, because we do not have more helicopters that could fight against fire. We are waiting for soldiers with spades and bulldozers to make a dig, we a counting an area of fire, it is bigger than previously thought, 35 ha.

Soundbite (Lithuanian), DARIUS JASAITIS, Mayor of Neringa, where Curonian Split belongs:
The wind has blown towards Klaipeda, towards Smiltine, so no one will be able to extinguish this barrel of gunpowder, it would burn out towards the sea, just like as it was before. However, if the wind would change, we would have interesting things...