Kharkiv shrouded in acrid smoke

Kharkiv was literally shrouded in acrid smoke today. Residents of the city are complaining of sore throats, watery eyes and coughing.

It emerged that wooden railway sleepers were burning. They had been stacked by railway workers in the area of the city's Southern Railway Station on Kotova Street.

The area of the fire was approximately 70 square metres. This was enough for the smoke to envelop almost the entire city. Rescue workers are currently at the scene, attempting to extinguish the flames.

Although the sleepers are old, they still retain traces of creosote impregnation, which has an acrid odour.