53 dead in South Russia’s heavy floods

PanARMENIAN.Net - At least 53 people have perished in heavy downpours that caused flooding across the South Russian Krasnodar Territory, the Emergencies Ministry said on Saturday, July 7, according to RIA Novosti.

Earlier reports put the death toll at ten people.

Most heavily affected is the city of Gelendzhik where five people received electric shock and died after a transformer fell on the ground. Two other bodies were found by rescuers in the debris of a home destroyed by a flash flood.

Three other bodies were found in villages near Gelendzhik.

The heavy torrential rain began on Friday. All in all, 320 homes and about 1,000 households have been flooded. The emergencies ministry introduced state of emergency in Gelendzhik. Due to security concerns, 17 power substations had been temporarily closed there, leaving about 20,000 people without electricity.

“The situation is now returning to normal… new flood alerts have not been issued,” a spokesman for the ministry said.

Russia's emeregencies minister and minister of regional development have headed to the flooded region.