Local photographer captures pillars of smoke rising above the underground peat fire.

Russians grieving over damage to magical forests surrounding Siberia's jewel.

After a month of warm, dry weather and wildfires, the huge crater nicknamed ‘Mouth of Hell’ is now under direct threat.

Residents complain of 'severe carbon monoxide poisoning' as satellite images show blanket of smoke across eastern Siberia.

Average temperatures in the north of the Kara and Barents seas were 4C to 5C higher than previous years.

Ecology groups warn that the extent of fires in forests and taiga has been misreported by up to 159 times compared with satellite evidence of the grim facts.

Lena Pillars, a World Heritage Site, hit by the rampant flames, as calls grow for greater efforts to tackle infernos.

Ideas are clearly needed for more effective ways of countering the annual wildfire scourge, as the trend remains towards drier and hotter summers.

Pro-Kremlin eco-groups echo Greenpeace concerns by highlighting burning of forests which do not appear in government reports.