Worst smog yet hits Moscow, planes diverted
Russia struggled on Friday to gain control of hundreds of wildfires raging across the country that have claimed at least 50 lives, clogged the skies with a stinging smog, snarled air travel and forced the military to transfer weapons away from a base near Moscow. It was reported that the Moscow's Domodedovo Airport was paralysed by the delay of dozens of flights as visibility on the runways fell to about 410 yards. Russia is suffering from the worst heat wave since record-keeping began more than 130 years ago, accompanied by a drought that has withered millions of acres of Russian wheat and prompted the country on Thursday to halt its grain exports for the rest of the year.
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Russia struggled on Friday to gain control of hundreds of wildfires raging across the country that have claimed at least 50 lives, clogged the skies with a stinging smog, snarled air travel and forced the military to transfer weapons away from a base near Moscow.
It was reported that the Moscow's Domodedovo Airport was paralysed by the delay of dozens of flights as visibility on the runways fell to about 410 yards.
Russia is suffering from the worst heat wave since record-keeping began more than 130 years ago, accompanied by a drought that has withered millions of acres of Russian wheat and prompted the country on Thursday to halt its grain exports for the rest of the year. (AP Photo) -
Local officials in Russia have faced accusations of not doing enough to prevent fires and of failing to respond adequately to the blazes. Last week, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin called for the resignations of local leaders who had not adequately dealt with the crisis. (AP Photo)
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Firefighters from various European nations and former Soviet republics were arriving in Russia to help firefighters battle the blazes. Russia was preparing a shelter in its Kaliningrad exclave between Poland and Lithuania to house 150 children from fire-hit central Russia, the government said. (AP Photo)
.jpg "More than 3,000 people have been left homeless because of the fires, the government said on Thursday. Mr. Medvedev has declared a state of emergency in seven regions of the country. (AP Photo)")
.jpg "A Russian Emergency Ministry Mi-26 helicopter lifts a bucket of water to spew onto a burning forest near the village of Plotava, 80 km (49 miles) east of Moscow. (AP Photo)")
