The full health impact of the heatwave nationwide has not been reported...
Moscow’s health chief has confirmed the mortality rate has doubled as a heatwave and wildfire smog continue to grip the Russian capital.
There were twice the usual number of bodies in the city’s morgues, Andrei Seltsovsky told reporters.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10912658
Meanwhile, a state of emergency has been declared around a nuclear reprocessing plant in the southern Urals because of nearby wildfires.
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Russia reduces harvest forecast
And there was a new warning over shortfalls in Russia’s grain harvest.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said this year’s harvest, hit by fire and drought, would be worse than previously forecast.
Currently expected to be 65m tonnes, it could be as low as 60 million tonnes, Mr Putin said.
Mr Putin also said that a ban on grain exports could be extended beyond the end of 2010 because of shortages for domestic markets.
Russia is the world’s third largest wheat exporter. Its biggest customers include Egypt, Turkey and Syria
(lots of pics at link)
Wildfires turn Russia red: 700 die a day in Moscow as deadly smog doubles mortality rate