Smog Blankets Moscow

Smog from wildfires blankets Moscow

Smog from escalating wildfires raging in Moscow’s surrounding areas has blanketed the capital, stranding many passengers of more than a hundred flights that were canceled, and health concerns are mounting over the effects of the chocking smoke.

The Kremlin towers and the famous domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral were hazy at a distance as the smog enveloping most of the city has not shown signs of clearing up.

The situation has turned into a major crisis for Russia, as authorities instituted extra measures to protect the country’s main nuclear research facility from the wildfires.

Car headlights were used in broad daylight as drivers had a tough time seeing the road ahead with very poor visibility.

A couple thousand passengers at the Domodedovo international airport, which is the nearest airport from the wildfires south of Moscow, were stranded after flight delays and cancellations.

Moscow residents have started to flee from the smog and book travel reservations for countries like Egypt, Turkey, and Montenegro were up.

“In the last week the demand for tickets from Moscow sold online has gone up by 20 per cent,” Irina Turina, spokeswoman of the Russian Union of Tour Operators, told Moscow Echo radio. “For this weekend there are no places on aircraft to resort destinations and next weekend very few. “

Carbon monoxide levels are currently 2.8 times higher than the limit, reported air pollution monitor Mosekomonitoring. Health specialists have already voiced out their concerns that the harmful particles may damage the health of many Muscovites.

Meanwhile, the media is criticizing Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, who did not quickly return from a summer break after learning of the situation. His aides said the mayor had to interrupt a treatment and has now decided to finally return to the city to handle the crisis.

Posted by Sophia Andrews on Monday August 09 2010, 11:02 AM EDT. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Travel. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0