Noxious Smog Returns to Moscow

The poisonous smog that caused bodies to pile up in Moscow's morgues is back, carrying levels of carbon monoxide that are at alarmingly high, unhealthy levels. According to one weather monitor, "The level of hydrocarbon emissions—the substances that give the air this unpleasant smell—was 5.5 times higher than the usual Moscow level this morning." Smoke from nearby forest fires had all but shut down Moscow until early this week, covering the city and grounding airplanes. As of Sunday, 16 wildfires are still raging, and Moscow residents are angry with the government's pace of putting out the fires. On top the fires, the country is experiencing its hottest summer in the last 130 years, with temperatures reaching 100 degrees in some regions.