Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Fires grow close to secret Russian nuclear site
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Fires grow close to secret Russian nuclear site
AFP - Saturday, August 14
Send
IM Story
Print
Fires grow close to secret Russian nuclear site
MOSCOW (AFP) - – A fire raging dangerously close to Russia's main nuclear research centre has grown in size, officials said Friday, as firefighters battled to cut back hundreds of blazes across the country.
The emergencies ministry said that more than 500 fires covering just under 65,000 hectares of land were still ablaze across Russia, down 15,000 hectares from the day earlier, in a crisis that has already left 54 dead.
Russian has sent thousands of firefighters to a nature reserve near the country's top nuclear research centre in Sarov, a town still closed to foreigners as in Soviet times, and officials warned a fire was gaining in area.
"The fire which appeared in the eastern part of the nature reserve two days ago after lightning struck a pine tree has grown in size and now presents a certain danger," the head of the emergencies ministry for the Mordovia region, Major General Vyacheslav Kormilitsyn, said in a statement.
The fire had grown to an area of 1,000 hectares, the local emergencies ministry said in a statement on its website. The fire is in a nature reserve in the district of the village of Popovka, 17 kilometres (10 miles) southeast of Sarov.
"At the current time, efforts are being made to contain the fire within its existing limits and localise it," Kormilitsyn added, saying that 2,600 people and 200 pieces of equipment were being used to extinguish the blazes.
A second fire in the nature reserve -- in the district of the village of Pushta, 21 kilometres (13 miles) southwest of Sarov -- is smaller at 200 hectares and has been localised, the ministry added.
After a record heatwave lasting over a month, first significant rain for weeks poured down on Moscow overnight, with lower temperatures up to 32 degrees Celsius were expected later in the day.
Despite signs of public frustration with the authorities, a heavy police presence ensured only a few dozen activists turned out for a protest against the Moscow mayor's handling of the crisis, several of whom were then arrested.
There was little sign of the smog from the wildfires that had blighted the Russian capital in the last week but new reports emerged accusing the authorities of hiding the true health toll from the heatwave.
Moscow's top health official has already said the mortality rate had doubled in the heatwave, with hundreds more deaths every day than in usual periods. However the federal authorities have refused to confirm these figures.
The Interfax news agency quoted Moscow doctors as saying they had been forbidden to give "heatstroke" as a cause of death to keep a lid on the statistics.
"We received the order not to use the diagnosis 'heatstroke'. We are told that the statistics for heatstroke were mounting up," one doctor told the news agency.
Interfax said the heatwave had also forced Russia to stop producing biometric passports for a week after condensation infiltrated the server at the unit where they are produced when its air conditioning broke down.
Production has now resumed and the database was not damaged, it quoted the federal migration agency as saying. Related article:Russia loses quarter of crops in drought
With the full impact of the drought and fires becoming clear, President Dmitry Medvedev said one quarter of Russia's crops had been lost and many farms were now on the verge on bankruptcy.
Russia has banned grain exports and US government slashed its 2010-11 global supply forecasts by around 2.5 percent from last month's estimates, on lower than expected production from the former Soviet Union.
As the authorities fight the blazes around Sarov, there have also been fears the fires could stir up particles on land in western Russia still contaminated by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
Fires have also blazed in neighbouring Ukraine, with the emergency services working to put out a two-hectare (five-acre) peat bog fire 60 kilometres (35 miles) from Chernobyl.
But the authorities have said the situation is under control and are urging people not to panic.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Clinton prompts Netanyahu on peace talks AFP - 28 minutes ago
UK-World Summary Reuters - 40 minutes ago
Ten killed in Jamaica in outburst of gang violence Reuters - 40 minutes ago
Germany frees alleged Israeli agent AFP - 1 hour 10 minutes ago
Germany drives record recovery, but experts fear 'peak' AFP - 1 hour 18 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Energy costs send US consumer prices higher
Germany drives record recovery as experts fear 'peak'
Spain confirms timid economic recovery
BP to pay 50 mln dlr fine for deadly 2005 Texas blast
Germany posts record growth in second quarter
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
India threatens to ban Blackberry email, messaging
US jobless claims jump to six-month high
Visitors attack Taiwan 'haunted house' actors
'Rage against US' motivated Kampala bombing 'mastermind'
GM profits surge past $1 bln as IPO looms
More Most Viewed »
Argentine students crack three-decade-old murder mystery
40 US billionaires pledge half wealth to charity
Visitors attack Taiwan 'haunted house' actors
World's first full face transplant man appears on TV
Calcium supplements linked to heart attacks: study
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Friday, 13 August 2010 Major powers drawing up framework for Mideast talks
Russia marks submarine loss under shadow of new tragedy
Facebook panic button prompts surge in abuse reports
Iran stoning woman tortured to confess on TV: lawyer
Boosted by big profit, GM preps for IPO with new boss
Cisco revenue climbs but profit disappoints
US jobless claims jump to six-month high
Iran stoning woman 'tortured' before TV 'confession'
Are the Iraqi security forces ready or not?
|
'Rage against US' motivated Kampala bombing 'mastermind'
Australia working with US on WikiLeaks files
Suspect says rage at U.S. led him to plot Ugandan bombs
|
Claims of Afghan civilian deaths spark protest
Four bullet-riddled bodies found in South African mine
|
Staff at BAA airports vote to strike
|
Many Americans don't want government to push fast Internet
|
Tata Steel swings to quarterly profit, lags forecasts
India industrial output grows at slowest in 13 months
Credit Suisse gets green light for branch in India
China Mobile and Xinhua agree to set up search engine
Miner Vedanta in talks to buy Cairn India stake
Mahindra says MoU for Ssangyong takeover to be signed soon
Asia Naphtha-Taiwan Formosa buys more for Sept
Pakistan stocks end flat; floods bring prices worry
Japan PM voices concern over yen's 'rapid' rise
MTV video awards give Kanye West a second chance
|
Aussie actors steal spotlight in Animal Kingdom
|
Kelsey Grammer's girlfriend pregnant
|
Fantasia released from hospital after overdose
|
A Minute With: Eat Pray Love director Ryan Murphy
|
WikiLeaks to continue releasing Afghan war files: Assange
Heavy rain and mudslides bring more misery to China
|
US-TECH Summary
Germany posts record 2Q growth
Canada intercepts migrant ship on Pacific coast
|
Brazil's surprise election issue: Iran
BP to pay 50 mln dlr fine for deadly 2005 Texas blast
Oracle sues Google over Android
Reclusive Myanmar to hold elections on November 7
|
India threatens to ban Blackberry email, messaging
Gates says Kim Jong-il's son seeks military stripes
|
Italy's Molinari shares early lead at PGA Championship
Google denies selling out on 'net neutrality'
Boosted by big profit, GM preps for IPO with new boss
Oracle accuses Google of violating patents
Diseases pose new risks in Pakistan flood crisis
|
Car bomb explodes in Bogota, in test for new president
Russians criticize Putin on corruption and oligarchs
|
Chinese admiral says U.S. drill courts confrontation
|
Google adds voice commands to Android smartphones
Once high-flying China official gets death sentence
|
Lawyer's collapse halts Canadian's Guantanamo trial
New rain piles on misery for China flood survivors
Media watchdog slams Wikileaks' 'irresponsibility'
Foreigners boost insurgency in eastern Afghanistan
U.S. arrests Israeli linked to serial knife murders
Advertisers flocking to Facebook: eMarketer
S.Korea president pardons politicians, businessmen
India gives RIM until Aug 31 to yield on BlackBerry
Global minimum and maximum temperatures
WikiLeaks to continue releasing Afghan war files: Assange
Affidavit: Conn. shooter stole empty kegs, cases
Stabbing spree suspect nabbed before Israel flight
Judge keeps gay marriage on hold
India to target Google and Skype messaging next: report
|
Kelsey Grammer's girlfriend pregnant
Oracle sues Google over Android
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Kirk Douglas "confused" about NY mosque plans
Paris Hilton to vigorously defend bad hair day
TV series "Glee" to get comic book treatment
Lindsay Lohan could see early release from rehab
Seoul shares rise 1.4 pct on techs, shipyards
'Cathy' comic strip comes to an end. AAACK!
Yen weak after Japan govt's 'verbal intervention'
Europe's biggest balloon festival takes flight
Chinese investors drop bid for AIA shares
Aussie actors steal spotlight in "Animal Kingdom"
Pakistan c.bank buys 22.15 bln rupees of govt paper
Kelsey Grammer's girlfriend pregnant
Offshore holdings of NZ govt debt fell in July-RBNZ
A Minute With: "Eat Pray Love" director Ryan Murphy
Korean Air posts record Q2 profit, fcasts Q3 growth
China mudslides highlight cost of rapid economic growth
Lindsay Lohan could see early release from rehab
|
The Expendables eyes brawny box office debut
|
WRAPUP 1-New Zealand data leaves market split over rate rise
Paris Hilton to vigorously defend bad hair day
|
Ryan Reynolds homes in on Safe House thriller
|
Seoul shares rise 1.4 pct on techs, shipyards
Idol judge Kara disappointed by Fox silence
|
S.Korea T-bond futures steady on caution
NBC pulls Mad Men spoof after Emmy rivals irked
|
Kirk Douglas confused about NY mosque plans
|
Iran to fire up first nuclear power plant next week
Fires grow close to secret Russian nuclear site
Russia says to start up Iran Bushehr plant August 21
|
Russia says to start up Iran Bushehr plant Aug 21
Energy costs send US consumer prices higher
Germany drives record recovery as experts fear 'peak'
Optimistic on resolving India security concerns: RIM
Clinton prods Netanyahu on Mideast peace talks
|
Spain confirms timid economic recovery
Germany releases suspected Israeli spy
|
Iran to launch first nuclear power plant
Ten killed in Jamaica in outburst of gang violence
|
Germany drives record recovery, but experts fear 'peak'
US nabs al-Qaida-linked militants in Afghanistan
Four charged over deaths of 800 Bosnian Muslims
|
Death toll in Nigeria building collapse rises to 23
|
Gates: Congress hurting Afghan civilian aid effort
Russia to keep grain export ban, reap less in 2011
|
Canadians board Sri Lanka asylum boat
Three gunned down in Melbourne shootings
Guide says Stevens in good spirits before death
Prominent Tibetan sentenced to life in prison
Lawyers vary on contact between Marine, suspect
BlackBerry assures India on access to services: source
|
Heavy rain and mudslides bring more misery to China
Bollywood icon Khan offers new face of Indian cinema
Eminem set to return to No. 1 on album chart
Vedanta seeks Cairn stake for $8.5 bln
Harvard tops Chinese university rankings
BlackBerry 'optimistic' it can avert India ban
Rookie TV shows have strong shot at Emmy glory
Myanmar junta announces November 7 election
Pakistani shares up; rupee firms; o/n rates down
Cross divides Poles on role of religion in public life
Diseases pose new risks in Pakistan flood crisis
Chinese businessmen accused of Filipino tax dodge
Rains leave 33 more dead in flood-ravaged China
Chinese 'gold' brings Egyptians a taste of little luxury
Korean Air shifts into red due to stronger won
Extinct mammoth tusks fill elephant ivory ban gap
Frustrated lefties can hope for liberated future
Yen eases as recovery concerns leave markets mixed
Ryan Reynolds homes in on "Safe House" thriller
Pakistan says won't divert forces from militant fight
"Idol" judge Kara "disappointed" by Fox silence
Jail for US pair in Thai film fest graft scandal
Paris Hilton to vigorously defend bad hair day
|
Eminem set to return to No. 1 on album chart
|
Rookie TV shows have strong shot at Emmy glory
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights