Putin sacks forestry chief over fires

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin yesterday sacked Russia's forestry agency chief, who had come under fierce criticism over the failure to prevent the summer's devastating wildfires.

Putin dismissed Rosleskhoz head Alexei Savinov and replaced him with his deputy, Viktor Maslyakov. The prime minister has previously criticised the agency for failing to use the government funds allocated for fire prevention efficiently. An unprecedented heat wave unprecedented has triggered thousands of wildfires in Russia. More than 50 people have been killed and more than 2,000 homes have been destroyed. The country's forest and peat bog fires now cover some 9,000 hectares (22,000 acres) - less than a 20th of the territory they covered earlier this month.

The number of deaths in Moscow during the worst of the scorching heat and smog was double the number recorded last year, city officials said. Health experts said many of the deaths were caused by heart and respiratory diseases.

More than 200 people have drowned in Moscow this summer, up from 80 people last year, as they sought relief from the heat, the RIA Novosti news agency reported. Many of those who drown in rivers and ponds are intoxicated, city officials say.

Heavy rain drenched the Russian capital yesterday, helping firefighters battle the remaining wildfires on the city's outskirts.