Rescuers are evacuating patients and medical personnel from a hospital threatened by forest fires in the central Russian city of Voronezh, an emergencies spokesperson said on Thursday.
Two forests near the city are on fire and the blazes have already destroyed 17 homes as well as force the evacuation from people at holiday camps.
"The situation is very serious," the spokeswoman said.
Temperatures across much of western and central Russia have topped 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) during the past five weeks, causing peat bog fires and creating what is thought to be the worst drought since 1972.
Temperatures of 42 degrees Celsius are forecast for Voronezh at the weekend.
VORONEZH, July 29 (RIA Novosti)
