Muscovites brave heatwave by plunging in fountains, rivers

The Russian capital Moscow is experiencing an unprecedented heatwave, with temperatures soaring to a sweltering 33 degrees Celsius. Muscovites are finding relief in the city's numerous fountains, rivers, and parks. Children can be seen frolicking in the fountains, their laughter echoing through the city streets, while adults also cool off amidst the water jets. "The heat is amazing! The main thing is that the children feel good. We've come here to freshen up and we feel good," said Denis, a resident of Moscow, with a smile on his face. As the sun scorches the city, construction workers are spotted taking ice cream breaks, a welcome respite from the intense heat. Beaches and riversides are transformed into popular hangouts, with people swimming, sunbathing, playing frisbee, and even taking selfies. "The heat has a wonderful effect on me. The weather is great. It tells you to go to the beach, which means you should go to the beach. Go walk, rest, enjoy the sun, life, and this amazing air, relax. Superb!" another resident, Arthur, shared his enthusiasm. Moscow city authorities have deployed trucks mounted with water tanks and hoses that spry jets of water along the streets, providing a refreshing mist for pedestrians and motorists alike. In the world-famous Red Square, not many people take a walk when the sun is high in the sky. Instead people are finding shade and buying drinks, eating ice cream, and sitting with their shoes off to beat the heat. "We are very thirsty, we eat ice cream. This is how we pass the time. We walk in the shade. That's it," said Vladimir, echoing the sentiment of many. "For me, I think it's good weather. I take breaks and I drink a lot of water, and because of my skin, you know, it is a little more adaptive, so it is not that difficult for me to work under these conditions. Actually, I think I like it, because it reminds me of where I come from," said Kudzaima Filma, a student and delivery man from Zimbabwe. However, not everyone is coping well with the abnormal heat. Olesya, a tourist from the southern Russian city of Krasnodar, found the weather challenging. "I can't cope. We came from Krasnodar and I think it's colder there than here... it's hard, of course, it is hard," she said. As the city continues to simmer, residents and tourists alike are bracing for more hot days ahead, finding their own ways to stay cool and hydrated in the extraordinary heat. — Report from Reuters Subscribe to the ABS-CBN News channel! - http://bit.ly/TheABSCBNNews Watch full episodes on iWantTFC for FREE here: http://iwanttfc.com Visit our website at http://news.abs-cbn.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abscbnNEWS Twitter: https://twitter.com/abscbnnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abscbnnews