Moscow, Aug 11: Rescuers found more victims today from flash flooding on Russia's Black Sea coast, bringing the death toll up to 58 people, local emergency officials told the Interfax News Agency. Torrential rain in the past few days caused dykes and water reservoirs on the popular black sea coast in Southern Russia to burst their banks, damaging hundreds of houses and causing more than 1,500 tourists and residents to flee.
Several people are still reported missing and about 1,000 rescue workers, including divers, were involved in the search for survivors as residents continued the clean-up operation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday lambasted rescue efforts by local authorities who have failed to cope with a tragedy that truck resorts around the Black Sea when some 30,000 holidaymakers flocked to the region. Bureau Report