NUCLEAR WORLD ON FIRE

Death rate doubles in Moscow as heatwave continues
9 August 2010 (BBC News)

"Moscow's health chief has confirmed the mortality rate has doubled as a heatwave and wildfire smog continue to grip the Russian capital.There were twice the usual number of bodies in the city's morgues…

"In a separate incident, a state of emergency has been declared around a nuclear reprocessing plant in the Urals…Forest fires are threatening the plant in Ozersk…"

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"Smoke related death figures were not being reported immediately for other parts of central Russia, which have had similar droughts and wildfires for more than a month…[d]eath rates in Moscow [rose] between 30% and 50% in July, compared with the same period last year [from ~370 to ~700]…The concentration of carbon monoxide in Moscow was still more than double acceptable safety norms…as smog from peat and forest wildfires continued to blanket the city…Temperatures of more than 35C (95F) are forecast for the city…

"…[D]octors, speaking off the record, have talked of morgues filling with victims of heat stroke and smoke ailments…[O]ne Moscow doctor [reportedly wrote] on his anonymous blog - since deleted - of the stench from bodies piling up in the basement of his clinic where the fridges were full…Another doctor at a major hospital, speaking on condition of anonymity…[was quoted] that staff had been instructed by senior management not to link patients' illnesses to the heatwave…"

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"The head of the state weather service…[said] the heatwave of 2010 was the worst in 1,000 years of recorded Russian history…Moscow airports were working normally on Monday after last week's disruptions due to smog…Those who remain in the city of 10.5 million were being urged to wear face masks if they venture outdoors, and hang wet towels indoors to attract dust and cool the airflow…

"As of Monday morning, 557 wildfires continued to burn in Russia, 25 of them peat fires…While 239 fires were extinguished on Sunday, 247 new ones were discovered."