Muscovites have begun collecting donations for those left homeless following wildfires across central Russia by posting appeals on the Internet.
"I read a post on [the internet blogging site] Live Journal that there was a collection for the fire victims. Today I drove around Moscow in my own car, gathering clothes and other items donated by the city residents," one of the volunteers, Olga, said.
She said Muscovites had donated a range of items for the victims, including mattresses, pillows and shoes.
Liza, the organizer of the aid campaign, said many people had answered the appeal.
"Around 20-30 people, who wanted to help, called my phone alone," she said.
The organizers will work with the Russian Orthodox Church to deliver the donations on Wednesday to the worst hit Nizhny Novgorod, Voronezh and Ryazan regions.
The wildfires raging in central Russia have affected 14 Russian regions and left 34 people dead and over 2,000 homeless. The damage caused by the flames is estimated at over 4.6 billion rubles ($150 million) with a total of 1,875 homes destroyed.
Temperatures across much of western and central Russia have regularly topped 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) during the past five weeks, causing peat bog and forest fires and creating what is thought to be the worst drought since 1972.
MOSCOW, August 2 (RIA Novosti)
