THE TELEGRAPH: The US, Germany and France have asked citizens to avoid travel to Moscow as Russia struggles to battle wildfires which have claimed 52 lives and choked the capital.
Germany closed its embassy until further notice and advised citizens against "non-essential" travel to the affected regions.
The US State Department asked nationals to seriously review travel plans.
"Forest fires and extreme high temperatures in the Moscow region and surrounding areas of central Russia have produced hazardous levels of air pollution and caused numerous flight delays and cancellations in Moscow," the department said in a warning set to expire on September 5.
"The hazardous air quality means that persons with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should remain indoors and keep activity levels low. Everyone should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors," it said.
The French foreign ministry also asked citizens to avoid travel to nine affected regions and announced it was sending experts to determine "the most adequate aid" it could offer.
Moscow's iconic landmarks such as the spires of the Kremlin towers or the onion domes of Orthodox churches were largely invisible from a distance on Friday as a heavy smog hung over the city after the worst heatwave in decades broke out in July. >>> | Saturday, August 07, 2010
THE TELEGRAPH: Russian heatwave kills 5,000 as fires rage out of control: Russia's devastating summer heatwave has cost almost 5,000 lives, according to officials who conceded yesterday that the state was struggling to gain control over the worst wildfires in decades. >>> Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent | Friday, August 06, 2010
The disaster in pictures >>>
Isn’t there anything that the British government can do in the way of assistance? It seems to me that we British should be doing something to help these poor people? I applaud the French for sending experts to Russia to determine the best way of helping the Russians battle with these dreadful, uncontrollable wildfires. – Mark
