Moscow, Russia (CNN) -- Fires left at least four people dead and hundreds homeless in two regions of central Russia, government officials said Friday.
At least 18 people were injured and 957 people were moved to temporary homes, according to authorities.
The blaze started after severe wind storms, coupled with hot weather, disrupted electricity transmission lines, causing short circuits that led to the fires, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said.
More than 2,500 firefighters and rescuers are battling the blazes. The ministry said it is increasing its efforts to localize and put out the fires.
It affected 20 villages in Volgograd region and six in Saratov, the ministry said on its website.
However, Anatoly Brovko, the governor of Volgograd, told Russian state media that five people had died and five more were missing in his region.
CNN
