Moscow chokes under smog cloud
Source: Agencies |
July 29, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE worst smog to hit Moscow in almost a decade has sent pollution soaring 10 times above safe levels, an air monitoring service said yesterday, as firemen reported success in extinguishing the peat fires causing the smoke.
A heatwave has engulfed central parts of European Russia since June, pushing temperatures in Moscow to their highest-ever level and sparking forest and peat fires across the country.
Peat fires on the outskirts have blanketed Moscow in its worst smog since 2002. The smoke's sharp, cinder-filled smell has crept into offices, homes and restaurants via windows and doors.
"The concentration of carbon monoxide and suspended particles in Moscow surged up to 10 times above the limit last night," Alexei Popikov, specialist at Mosekomonitoring, a city government agency overseeing air pollution, said.
The Russian capital hit an absolute temperature record on Monday with 37.4 degrees Celsius.
Moscow region chief Boris Gromov asked Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to allocate 25 billion roubles (US$827 million) to fight the fires around the city.
State-run news agency RIA reported yesterday that all the fires had been extinguished, but the Emergencies Ministry said new fires had since erupted.
A heatwave has engulfed central parts of European Russia since June, pushing temperatures in Moscow to their highest-ever level and sparking forest and peat fires across the country.
Peat fires on the outskirts have blanketed Moscow in its worst smog since 2002. The smoke's sharp, cinder-filled smell has crept into offices, homes and restaurants via windows and doors.
"The concentration of carbon monoxide and suspended particles in Moscow surged up to 10 times above the limit last night," Alexei Popikov, specialist at Mosekomonitoring, a city government agency overseeing air pollution, said.
The Russian capital hit an absolute temperature record on Monday with 37.4 degrees Celsius.
Moscow region chief Boris Gromov asked Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to allocate 25 billion roubles (US$827 million) to fight the fires around the city.
State-run news agency RIA reported yesterday that all the fires had been extinguished, but the Emergencies Ministry said new fires had since erupted.
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