Moscow swelters in record heat
Pastor Dale Morgan
Moscow swelters in record heat*
Moscow (AFP) May 29, 2007
Moscow sweltered Tuesday in a record heat wave that saw passengers
stranded in lifts, emergency meetings on power cuts, and a spike in
drownings as Muscovites sought relief in local rivers, ponds and
fountains. Record temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees
Fahrenheit) -- five to seven degrees Celsius higher than normal -- were
predicted by Moscow's meteorological service to continue through the week.
Monday's high of 33.2 decrees Celsius (92 degrees Fahrenheit) broke the
previous record, set in 1995, by one degree. According to Kommersant
newspaper, it was the first May since 1879 that Moscow has seen a
five-day spell of over 30 degrees Celsius.
The heat strained the city's infrastructure, prompting worries of a
repeat of a major power cut during hot weather exactly two years ago,
when transport and daily life were thrown into chaos.
The head of Mosenergosbyt, which runs electricity distribution for the
capital, announced that supplies would remain at normal levels for the
time being. On Monday a warning was issued that industrial supplies
might be restricted after transformers at 14 electrical substations
burned out.
In the last 24 hours more than 300 lifts broke down, stranding 38
people, city authorities told Interfax news agency.
Seeking to escape the heat, city dwellers headed for beer and cold
drinks kiosks and plunged into all available water holes, ranging from
fountains near the Kremlin to the Moscow River.
Which often made it worse: The emergency situations ministry in Moscow
said Tuesday that 12 people drowned last week, news site www.newsru.com,
reported.
During the same period last year there was just one fatality. Last week
48 people were rescued while swimming, compared to seven last year.
The country's top health official, Gennady Onishchenko, warned citizens
to avoid bathing in extreme heat. "You can only go to the beach and
water when the heat drops," he was quoted as saying by Interfax.
Onishchenko also had discouraging words for anyone hoping to find shade
in forests. "In current conditions you have to be especially careful,
because this year stands out for high activity of ticks."
Source: Agence France-Presse