Worst Haze in 30 Years Blankets Moscow

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, August 01, 2002

Worst Haze in 30 Years Blankets Moscow

Fueled by raging peat bog fires, a thick blanket of smoke has settled on Moscow, turning the sky into a gray-white haze and cutting visibility to 1 1/2 kilometers.

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Fueled by raging peat bog fires, a thick blanket of smoke has settled on Moscow, turning the sky into a gray-white haze and cutting visibility to 1 1/2 kilometers.

Moscow health officials on Wednesday advised that those suffering from respiratory and heart problems stay indoors or if possible leave the city altogether to avoid the worst haze seen in the capital in 30 years.

Weather forecasters said the city would see some relief by the weekend, when a new weather front is expected to bring rain and a welcome drop in temperature. More important, the front should bring wind to refresh Moscow's air.

Peat bog fires are a usual occurrence around Moscow's city limits. This year, however, the number of fires has increased due to the heat, while a lack of wind allowed the smoke to settle in the capital Tuesday, said Yelena Yershova, spokeswoman for the Federal Meteorological Service.

The last time such a heavy haze fell on the city was in the summer of 1972, Yershova said.

Peat bog fires, as well as forest fires, were to blame that year, and that haze lasted for weeks.

By Wednesday afternoon, there were 119 peat bog fires covering 276 hectares around Moscow, according to the Emergency Situations Ministry. Forest and peat bog fires have scorched 10,000 square kilometers of Russian countryside so far this summer, an area larger than Cyprus or seven Moscows.

Ministry spokeswoman Irina Andriyanova said hundreds of fire engines have been mobilized to fight Moscow's peat bog fires.

Peat -- partially decayed plant matter -- is a highly flammable material that is also used as fuel.

Smoke from the fires has increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the air in parts of the city to 20 percent higher than acceptable levels, Moscow's air-quality monitoring services said Wednesday.

Leonid Lazebnik, one of Moscow's top health officials, said the increased pollutants could lead to headaches and tiredness for many residents.

Source: Agencies

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