But is climate change to blame, or local officials who went on vacation instead of fighting fires?
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.
Pristine forests around the world's oldest lake go up in flames.
Residents complain of 'severe carbon monoxide poisoning' as satellite images show blanket of smoke across eastern Siberia.
Most fires will not be extinguished, with major cities polluted by fumes.
Southern Siberia hit by punishing flames causing death and destruction.
Summer 2020 follows unusually hot and dry spring in swinging between the extremes.
Extreme weather phenomena along with wildfires and flooding are the future 'due to global climate change’.
No official explanations for darkness over swathes of Yakutia amid conspiracy theories of a UFO, new weapons tests, a meteorite, or pollution from wildfires.