President Putin Alarmed By "Unprecedented" Natural Disasters In Russia

The Russian President called on authorities to do everything possible to help Siberians affected by the region's gigantic wildfires

President Vladimir Putin today said the scale of natural disasters that have hit Russia this year is "absolutely unprecedented" as local officials ask for Moscow's help to tackle fires and floods. A former skeptic of man-made climate change, The Russian leader called on authorities to do everything possible to help Siberians affected by the region's gigantic wildfires, as well as Russians living in the flood-hit south of the country. Speaking at a video conference with the leaders of the affected eastern and southern regions, Mr Putin said he received daily reports on the climate situation in the country. "In the south (of Russia), the monthly norm of rainfall now falls in a few hours and in the Far East on the contrary, forest fires in drought conditions are spreading rapidly," Mr Putin said.