Russia combats wildfires in Chernobyl radiation zone

Russia is mounting extra patrols to fight wildfires in a region hit by nuclear fallout from Chernobyl, amid fears that radiation could spread.

Crews put out several fires in Bryansk, the emergencies ministry said, amid concern that wind or fire could whip up radioactive particles in the soil. Officials say they are assessing the danger and there is no cause for panic, reports BBC News.

Fires have swept through western Russia for a week, although officials say many are now under control. The area engulfed by fires has halved, with 92,000 hectares (350 sq miles) now affected, compared to Tuesday's figure of 174,000 hectares.

Moscow enjoyed clear skies on Wednesday after rains helped cleanse the air after a week of heavy smog. But more than 600 fires are still burning in different parts of the country, including around the capital, and weather forecasters are warning the smoke could soon return.

Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, have warned that radioactive particles which settled into the soil after the 1986 disaster could be thrown up into the air once again by wildfires and blown into other areas by the wind.

A new wildfire was reported on Wednesday near an important nuclear research centre, at Sarov in the Nizhny Novgorod region. Firefighters and troops who were sent to douse previous fires around the town have been urgently recalled to fight the new blaze, Russia's Interfax news agency says.