In Russia, soaring temperatures across large swathes of the country have destroyed nearly 10 million hectares of crops and prompted a state of emergency to be declared in 17 regions.<br/><br/>Today the state-run Moscow region weather bureau said it expected the heatwave, which has gripped the country since late June and is estimated to have already cost the agricultural sector about 1 billion dollars, to continue into next week. <br/><br/>It said tomorrow could see temperatures in Moscow hit 37 Celsius, which would break the previous record of 36.6C set in 1936. The high temperatures and tinder dry land have exacerbated the problem of forest fires.<br/><br/>A state of emergency, due to the country's worst drought in 130 years, has now been imposed in 17 Russian regions, up from 16 earlier this week. <br/><br/>The Agriculture Ministry in a statement said the area affected sprawls from the southern Urals and central European Russia to the Volga. A state of emergency might be declared in a further two regions.