news worldnews europe russia 7910473 ----- # Moscow hit by smog in soaring temperatures ## Thick smog blanketed large parts of Moscow as dozens of forest and peat bog fires raged outside the Russian capital amid soaring temperatures. 400 227 TelegraphPlayer-7915573 [Link to this video][1] Andrew Osborn in Moscow 5:28PM BST 26 Jul 2010 As the temperature hit 99F (38C), the highest in Moscow since records began 130 years ago, even famous landmarks such as Red Square were partially obscured by the smog and doctors warned people to stay indoors. Such fires break out almost every summer but they are much worse this year due to a stifling heatwave that has wrecked a fifth of [Russia][2]'s arable land. Experts said the quality of air in Moscow, not good to begin with, had plummeted as a result of the smog and that the quantity of harmful impurities in the air exceeded normal levels by up to eight times. "This is a nightmare," said Nastya Kulikova, an accountant on her way to work. "Moscow is becoming unliveable. Breathing in this air cannot be good for you." Doctors told Muscovites to spend as little time in the street as possible and advised people to cover their faces with scarves or masks when out. Even though most Moscow flats are not equipped with air conditioning, they said it would be a good idea to close all windows when at home. ## Related Articles * [Paratroopers' Day in pictures][3] 02 Aug 2010 * [Forest fires in Russia][4] 03 Aug 2010 * [Orange skies in Russia][5] 04 Aug 2010 * [Drunk Russians drowning due to heat wave][6] 14 Jul 2010 Meanwhile, planes filled with water tried to douse the smouldering fires ringing Moscow. Officials said they had tackled more than sixty fires in the last twenty four hours, claiming that their efforts to extinguish them were largely successful. Hundreds of Russians have died in recent weeks after drowning, often drunk, at dangerous lakes and reservoirs. More than twelve hundred fish in a Moscow pond became the latest casualties on Monday when workers tipped a huge quantity of hot water into the already warm water causing the fish to due of heat shock. [X][7] Share & bookmark Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! 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