Russia in flames
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The heatwave continues, hundreds of fires rage on and heads are starting to roll in Moscow as the authorities struggle to bring the situation under control.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin himself got involved in the firefighting effort today, co-piloting a plane that dumped 24 tons of water on the burning forest 200 km southeast of Moscow, extinguishing two fires.
This came after he took the unusual step of meeting villagers who lost their homes face-to-face and responding personally to criticism of the handling of the fires in the Russian blogosphere.
But critics are wondering if the prime minister's PR offensive will be enough to reassure an increasingly alarmed population.
Anger is rising in Moscow, which continues to labour under a heavy cloud of smoke. The city has seen its daily death rate rise to more than double the average, something health officials attribute to the intense smog.
In a TV appearance today, President Medvedev took a tough stance, publicly firing a Moscow Region forestry chief who failed to return early from holiday to tackle the growing crisis. The Russian leader sent a clear message that other officals found wanting would face the same fate.
Meanwhile, the firefighters face a prolonged battle with no let up in sight. Meteorologists are warning that the extreme heatwave that has been providing ideal conditions for the blazes is set to continue for several more days yet.
