Moscow Is Melting

Posted on Jul 29, 2010

AP / IgorYakunin

Locals have been escaping the record-breaking heat by jumping into fountains, but there’s no getting away from the smog, which could be as harmful as smoking multiple packs of cigarettes a day.

The Russian capital has suffered nearly 50 fires as Muscovites cope with the hottest temperatures ever recorded in the city. The BBC reports that it got up to 102 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday. Guess they won’t be needing those funny hats.

In case you were wondering, Wikipedia says the average high for July in Moscow is 73.8 degrees.

BBC:

Health experts say pollution levels in parts of the city are 10 times higher than normal safety limits and advise locals to stay indoors or wear masks.

A state of emergency has been declared in more than 20 drought-hit regions.

It is estimated a fifth of the country’s wheat crop has now died due to the lack of rain in what is thought to be the country’s worst drought for more than a century.

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