Moscow:
Smoke from fires outside the city is smothering Russia's capital Moscow, seeping inside buildings and forcing residents to wear face masks.
Health experts say pollution such as carbon monoxide is four times higher than average. The concentration appeared likely to intensify with the state news agency ITAR-Tass reporting smoke thickening in the city's southeast late Friday.
The fires, which are raging across much of western Russia, come after weeks of extraordinary heat -- daily highs of up to 100 (38 C) and practically no rain.
Natural Resources Minister Yuri Trenev said on Friday there's no water shortage yet but he noted that river levels are down by more than 20 percent, due to increased demands for water to battle the fires and practically no water flowing in.