Krasnoyarsk and Novosibirsk suffering smoke pollution and infernos rage in forests after hot, dry weather.
Plane schedules disrupted, residents warned to stay indoors, sailors had to use GPS to get back to land because of thick smoke fumes from raging forest fires.
With smoke having blown as far as the US and Canada, experts now say 'the trend is positive' in controlling fires raging from the Urals to the Pacific.
Emergency services in major operation with higher toll feared.
Overheating phone caused 'scare in the cabin', say reports.
‘Taiga burning’ - as scared bears are driven out of their natural habitat towards settlements where they are shot as danger to people.
Greenpeace claims up to 300 times more territory in Siberia is ablaze than officially acknowledged.
A smoky haze in British Columbia originated in Eastern Siberia, says a top Canadian meteorologist.
Most fires will not be extinguished, with major cities polluted by fumes.