Russia longs for heat relief

Youngsters enjoy cold water in the Soviet era "Fountain of the Nations' Friendship" in Moscow on July 7, 2010. ALEXANDER NEMENOV/ AFP PHOTO /GETTY IMAGES 

One of the fiercest heatwaves in its history has engulfed Russia, withering crops, causing the worst drought in 130 years and prompting a top public health official to call for Spanish-style siesta breaks.

Central parts of European Russia have all been suffering from the scorching heat, which started in late June and often reaches 40 C in the shade.

Similar conditions have only occurred five times — in 1919, 1920, 1936, 1938 and 1972 — since Russia started recording temperatures 130 years ago, Valery Lukyanov, deputy head of Russia’s main weather forecast centre Roshydromet, told Reuters.

“This is the sixth year in history when late June and early July pose a real threat from the point of view of abnormal temperatures,” he said, adding that Moscow could set its own record if temperatures hit 37C.

The capital’s previous high of 36.6 was registered in 1936, Lukyanov said. “God forbid us to set such records,” he added.

--Reuters News Agency 

Russian girls sunbathe on banks of the Neva river in central St. Petersburg on July 6, 2010 while cooling off from the hot summer sun. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images