MOSCOW, July 7 (Itar-Tass) —— Seventy eight people died in the floods in the Krasnodar Territory, the head of the press service of the Russian Interior Ministry's regional department, Igor Zhelyabin, told Itar-Tass.
Most of the victims are in the Krymsk district. The water rose seven metres there overnight. It is a rural area, mostly with one-storey houses. The torrents washed out residential sites and flooded houses. Most people slept when it happened.
Policemen help people to get down from roofs and trees, as the flood has subsided, the spokesman said.
Some died of electric shocks. Some were carried by strong torrents to the sea and drowned. Investigators are working to establish the causes of the deaths.
Six people were hurt, and three of them were hospitalized.
Heavy thunderstorms with rains hit southern Russia overnight. The Krasnodar Territory’s Black Sea coast was hit most severely.
The precipitation level was 231 mm in Gelendzhik, 88 mm in Novorossiisk and 65 mm in Krymsk. By 10:00, additional 51 mm, 187 mm and.156 mm, respectively, were reported. It is four-five times higher than a month’s normal level, the Russian hydro-meteorological service said.
The Emergencies Ministry's North Caucasian regional centre issued storm warnings earlier for the region. The service warned about heavy rains with thunderstorms, hail, windstorms and floods.