4 dead as fires ravage central Russia

Moscow, Russia (CNN) -- Fires left at least four people dead and hundreds homeless in two regions of central Russia, government officials said Friday.
At least 18 people were injured and 957 people were moved to temporary homes, according to authorities.
The blaze started after severe wind storms, coupled with hot weather, disrupted electricity transmission lines, causing short circuits that led to the fires, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said.
More than 2,500 firefighters and rescuers are battling the blazes. The ministry said it is increasing its efforts to localize and put out the fires.
It affected 20 villages in Volgograd region and six in Saratov, the ministry said on its website.
However, Anatoly Brovko, the governor of Volgograd, told Russian state media that five people had died and five more were missing in his region.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin signed a decree Friday allocating 1 billion rubles (almost $33 million) in financial aid to the two regions.
The funds will be used to replace houses lost in the fires and compensate for the loss of property.
Families of those who died will receive a lump sum of 1 million rubles (almost $33,000 ), according to the decree.

Interfax news agency said almost 50 houses burned in Penza, a third region of central Russia. No fatalities were reported.