Zheleznogorsk

Wildfires in Russia have burned across a combined area the size of Greece so far in 2020, surpassing official estimates threefold. Experts warn that this year’s blazes could become the most destructive in history.

Abnormally hot May weather resembles midsummer with air temperatures as high as +35C.

The locals call it Black Sky, a combination of weather conditions and the exhaust from dozens of factories in this industrial city on the Yenisei river.

The tree line is moving up mountains at a rate of half a meter a year, say researchers from Krasnoyarsk Science Centre, part of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Krasnoyarsk and Novosibirsk suffering smoke pollution and infernos rage in forests after hot, dry weather.

Latest reports show 27 fires across Krasnoyarsk region covering 8,682 hectares in. Areas potentially threatening settlements. The forest fire situation is most difficult in Siberia and the Far East, in the Sakha region.

Boy was mauled to death, his sister managed to escape and raised alarm.

Facilities for producing weapons grade plutonium believed safe despite fierce flames caused by wildfires.