Five firefighters were killed and a further three were missing on Thursday after trying to stamp out a massive wildfire in a nature preserve in southern Chile. The blaze has destroyed around 24,800 hectares of land and displaced 600 people.
Iran’s LGBT community launches an online campaign to defend gay rights. Web users in Texas are mobilizing online to fight the devastating wildfires sweeping through the state. And a herd of cows are treated to a private jazz concert.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will wants those affected by the Mount Carmel fires to be returned to their homes, or given temporary housing, as quickly as possible. The authorities know they have to pull out all the stops following the disaster; the Israeli fire service was overwhelmed by the wildfires, due to its being woefully under-funded and ill-equipped.
At least 54 people dead, thousands more homeless, and vast swathes of countryside on fire: Russia’s heatwave left the country suffocating. France 24’s Chris Moore and Sylvain Rousseau travelled to the Moscow region to meet overwhelmed fire crews and stricken villagers – and discovered there was much more than record temperatures behind the blazes.
Web users continue their mobilization for victims of the wildfires in Russia ; Brazil’s presidential campaign is in full swing ; and a dating site exclusively for ugly people.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said that he will personally oversee reconstruction efforts after devastating wildfires in the country. But as the fires begin to die down, questions about mismanagement and corruption are emerging from the ashes.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has asked the country's business tycoons to boost reconstruction efforts after wildfires destroyed villages and killed dozens. Economists predict damage from fires could cost Russia $14 billion of its GDP this year.
After months of scorching temperatures, raging wildfires and poisonous smog, Russia may finally be able to breathe a sigh of relief as meteorologists predict colder weather and heavy rainfall starting Monday.
Moscow is seeing continued high levels of carbon dioxide after smog caused by wildfires returned to the capital on Sunday. Firefighters continue to battle the blazes that have killed more than 50 people and made thousands homeless.
The first planeloads of US logistical support for beating back widespread Russian wildfires arrived at Moscow airport early on Saturday as officials said the fires had shrunk to roughly a quarter of the size they were a week ago.
