It is as large an area as 13 Gotland, which is burning in Siberia right now. However, according to SVT's Russia correspondent Bert Sundström, it is not as bad as it may sound. 

- It's bad, but almost all fires are very far away from large cities where many people live, says Bert Sundström in SVT's Morning Studio.

In order to stop the fires, Russia has used a previously proven method, to prepare clouds with chemicals. This is to control how much rain is coming and where the rain should end up. A not completely harmless method, according to SVT meteorologist Josefine Bergstedt.

- One of the most effective chemicals sometimes used is silver iodide is not completely harmless to humans and animals, she says.

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"Not completely harmless" Photo: SVT