Russian capital shrouded by smoke from deadly fire

A Russian official has said that firefighters are making headway as they battle against a series of wildfires that have left at least 34 people dead and destroyed hundreds of homes.

Lieutenant General Vladimir Stepanov, who heads the Emergencies Ministry's crisis response centre, said that some 500 new fires had been sparked nationwide in the past 24 hours, but that most of them were immediately doused.

Even so, Russians remained watchful, as a modest lull in the most intense heatwave since the country began keeping records 130 years ago appeared to be ending.

Experts predicted a new week of high temperatures that could approach 38 degrees Celsius, offering another opportunity for fires to spread.

"Taking into account weather forecasts for the coming week, we, unfortunately, have nothing good to wait for," Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

On Monday, Muscovites awoke to a fresh blanket of haze, which carried a pungent burning smell, as smog from peat bog fires to the south and east periodically shrouded Moscow.