Deaths as Russian wildfires return

[Turborama]

Source: Al Jazeera English

A fresh wave of wildfires that engulfed more than a dozen villages and towns in southern Russia has killed at least four people and destroyed hundreds of homes, officials say.

Hundreds of blazes driven by high winds and scorching temperatures have burnt down nearly 500 buildings in about 20 villages in the Volgograd and Saratov provinces, an emergencies ministry spokewoman said.

On Friday officals said four people had been killed and 18 injured in the past day, with new fires flaring up in more than 25 populated areas.

Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, has ordered authorities to mobilise all means to fight the new blazes, as the emergencies ministry warned there was a risk of the fires spreading to other southern regions.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/09/20109221635601917.html