MOSCOW, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Wildfires raging throughout western Russia have killed at least 52 people and displaced tens of thousands of others, government officials said Friday.
Fires are burning in 22 Russian regions and satellite pictures indicate there are 535 hot spots, RIA Novosti reported.
"A total of 471 people (sought) medical help and 72 were hospitalized, 43 fire victims are currently in hospitals and 52 have died," the Health and Social Development Ministry said.
Russian officials said the last of the wildfires in central Russia was doused Friday.
"The fire was extinguished at 8:15 p.m. (local time). There are now no fires in the region," an Emergencies Ministry official told Novosti, however, fires continued to rage in the central part of European Russia where temperatures topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit baked the region Friday.
Fires outside Voronezh left five people dead, more than 500 homeless and 7,910 acres charred.
Moscow was shrouded in smoke from a burning peat bog. UPI
