Smog chokes Moscow
Moscow woke yesterday to a veil of smog as the worst forest fires in years raged around the Russian capital. Residents were warned to stay indoors by meteorological experts reporting the thickest smog in 30 years.
Moscow woke yesterday to a veil of smog as the worst forest fires in years raged around the Russian capital.
Residents were warned to stay indoors by meteorological experts reporting the thickest smog in 30 years.
Six thousand firefighters have been deployed across the country, 1,000 of whom are dealing with about 100 fires around Moscow.
The hottest July since 1885 has kept the smog within the city, cutting visibility to 25 metres in some areas on Tuesday night.
The smog had begun to disperse until an easterly wind blew the forest fire smoke back into the city.
Peat fires in the forests have also contributed to the dense smoke, which experts hope clean cold winds will clear by Sunday.
Russia's over-stretched fire services are dealing with nearly 400 fires across 12 time zones. So far, 645,000 hectares of forest have been completely destroyed. The fires have yet to damage homes or cause any casualties.
Residents were warned to stay indoors by meteorological experts reporting the thickest smog in 30 years.
Six thousand firefighters have been deployed across the country, 1,000 of whom are dealing with about 100 fires around Moscow.
The hottest July since 1885 has kept the smog within the city, cutting visibility to 25 metres in some areas on Tuesday night.
The smog had begun to disperse until an easterly wind blew the forest fire smoke back into the city.
Peat fires in the forests have also contributed to the dense smoke, which experts hope clean cold winds will clear by Sunday.
Russia's over-stretched fire services are dealing with nearly 400 fires across 12 time zones. So far, 645,000 hectares of forest have been completely destroyed. The fires have yet to damage homes or cause any casualties.
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