Russian wildfires kill 34

A total of 34 people were killed in the recent wave of wildfires which have destroyed hundreds of homes, Russian officials revealed today.

The fires are thought to be slowly dying down, according to energies minister Vladimir Stepanov.

Nationwide, 500 new fires were registered in the past 24 hours, but most of them were immediately doused.

Officials said 28 people had died in the fires over the weekend, which by Sunday were engulfing an area equivalent to 316,000 acres.

Mr Stepanov said today that this total had shrunk by a further 7,000 acres.

About 1,500 homes have been wiped out as fires have torn through Central and Western Russia, boosted by a record heat wave that has dried forests and fields to a crisp.