Health warnings issued over Russian heatwave and smog

Russian health experts warned today that unprecedented heat and suffocating smog from wildfires will lead to more suicides, higher alcohol abuse and other problems, and accused the government of failing to address the long-term health dangers.

The hottest summer since records began 130 years ago has sparked thousands of fires in Russia, mostly in the western part of the country, and smoke from wildfires around Moscow have again clouded some parts of the capital even though firefighters have scored successes in containing the blazes.