Beware smoke: forest fires pose terrifying traffic hazard in Siberia

This is the unnerving scene on a highway linking the city of Chita with Khabarovsk and Vladivostok in the Far East of Russia. Seasonal fires are raging, posing an acute threat to motorists. 

Eyewitness Valeria told local Zab TV: 'Cars were stopping. The oncoming traffic was not visible at all. We tried to drive very slowly. Then we saw a fuel truck. It rushed through this hell at full speed, with the knowledge that any spark can destroy it.

'The driver obviously feared for his life. It was like hell. A terrible feeling. It was very scary. We saw three forest patrol vehicles. They just stood there and the fire epicentres were right behind them. But they could not do anything. No one helped them.'

Some 24,600 hectares are ablaze in the TransBaikal region and these images from a car video show the reality of the fires. The car was en route from Chita to Mogocha, according to postings on social media. 

The State Forestry Service reported the fires were caused by arsonists. The total area of the fire there is about 100 hectares. 

A local order bans residents of TransBaikal region going into forests until 8 June, regardless of the purpose. While there has been rain it has failed to douse the fires because of strong winds.