Moscow waiting for "wind of change" to disperse smog
MOSCOW. August 7. KAZINFORM Heavy smog has stayed in Moscow throughout night, and the Russian capital is waiting for a "wind of change" to disperse it.
The thickest smog is in the Russian capital's center. Friday was the worst smog-filled day in Moscow in 2010, with health officials warning people to stay inside. Carbon monoxide concentrations in Moscow's air on Friday exceeded the maximum permissible levels fivefold.
Meteorologists say the smell of fires burning around Moscow will remain in the air until wind changes its direction on Tuesday.
The city's east, northeast, southeast and north are also wrapped in smog, with visibility not exceeding 100 meters. Many Muscovites are wearing face masks on the street.
Moscow has been hit by smog - smoke from nearby peat bog and forest fires mixed with pollutants - for much of the last 12 days.
Wildfires continue to rage across much of the central part of European Russia as the country experience and unprecedented heat wave, with temperatures of up to and above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
The death toll in the blazes rose to 52 on Friday.
There are blazes in 22 Russian regions. On Thursday, NASA satellites Terra and Aqua registered 535 hotspots from wildfires across Russia, RIA Novosti reports.
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