Monday's high of 33.2 decrees Celsius (92 degrees Fahrenheit) broke the previous record, set in 1995, by one degree. According to Kommersant newspaper, it was the first May since 1879 that Moscow has seen a five-day spell of over 30 degrees Celsius.

The heat strained the city's infrastructure, prompting worries of a repeat of a major power cut during hot weather exactly two years ago, when transport and daily life were thrown into chaos.

The head of Mosenergosbyt, which runs electricity distribution for the capital, announced that supplies would remain at normal levels for the time being. On Monday a warning was issued that industrial supplies might be restricted after transformers at 14 electrical substations burned out.

In the last 24 hours more than 300 lifts broke down, stranding 38 people, city authorities told Interfax news agency.

Seeking to escape the heat, city dwellers headed for beer and cold drinks kiosks and plunged into all available water holes, ranging from fountains near the Kremlin to the Moscow River.

Which often made it worse: The emergency situations ministry in Moscow said Tuesday that 12 people drowned last week, news site www.newsru.com, reported.

During the same period last year there was just one fatality. Last week 48 people were rescued while swimming, compared to seven last year.

The country's top health official, Gennady Onishchenko, warned citizens to avoid bathing in extreme heat. "You can only go to the beach and water when the heat drops," he was quoted as saying by Interfax.

Onishchenko also had discouraging words for anyone hoping to find shade in forests. "In current conditions you have to be especially careful, because this year stands out for high activity of ticks."

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