Wildfires approach federal highway in Volga area

Wildfires have been raging in forests on both sides of the M5 "Urals" federal highway linking Moscow and the Urals city of Chelyabinsk near the city of Togliatti in the Volga area, the regional emergencies service said on Friday, RIA Novosti reported.

The Samara Region borders the wildfire-hit Saratov Region, where a total of seven wildfires were detected in six districts on Friday. A total of 14 houses and more than a dozen of other buildings were destroyed, but no casualties have been reported.

"Due to strong winds there is a threat that the fire might spread to filling stations and wayside cafes," the source said.

Traffic was halted at some parts of the highway due to intense smoke.