Dozens Die In Krasnodar Region

[knocker]

Russia flash floods: Dozens die in Krasnodar region

At least 99 people have been killed after flash floods caused by torrential rain swept the southern Russian Krasnodar region, officials say.

The floods, the worst there in living memory struck at night, reportedly without warning.

Emergency teams have been sent from Moscow by plane and helicopter. TV pictures showed people scrambling onto their rooftops to escape.

At least 88 people died around the worst-hit town of Krymsk. Crude oil shipments from the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk have suspended.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18751198

[Methuselah]

Another sad story, knocker. And one that clearly highlights the downside to severe weather...

[knocker]

Another sad story, knocker. And one that clearly highlights the downside to severe weather...

Indeed RP. I hope your not trying to get me in trouble again.

[Methuselah]

Indeed RP. I hope your not trying to get me in trouble again.

No, knocker...But the thought did occur...

[Keraunic]

Water is very powerful and destructive; and water where it should NOT be must be very frightening.

[Bobby]

Water is very powerful and destructive; and water where it should NOT be must be very frightening.

The 2004 Indian Ocean and Japanese tsnuamis showed that like never before.

[Sainsbo]

I feel very sorry for families of people who have died or are missing as a result of this. The article says 5 months of rain fell overnight. How much rain do they have every month?

[knocker]

The death toll is now 144 and rising. Many of the dead are reportedly pensioners, asleep when the flood struck and unable to escape in time.

http://www.rt.com/news/krymsk-russia-flood-devastation-655/

[knocker]

Russia blames local officials over fatal floods

(Reuters) - The Russian government accused local authorities on Monday of mishandling floods that killed 171 people near the Black Sea, hoping to deflect public anger over the high death toll and devastation from President Vladimir Putin.

The head of the Krymsk district, which bore the brunt of the damage at the weekend when a wall of water flooded homes and streets, lost his job hours after Russia's emergencies minister blamed officials on the ground for being slow to issue warnings.

Putin himself was shown on television in the Kremlin sternly demanding his subordinates report back to him by the end of the week on how the relief effort was going.

"We must help these families, help all the people who are in very difficult circumstances and have lost almost all their belongings," said Putin, anxious to appear in control after being accused of reacting too slowly to national disasters when he first rose to power in 2000.

In Krymsk, a town of 57,000 between the regional capital Krasnodar and the large port of Novorossiisk, people complained they had been let down by their leaders as they buried the victims, many of whom were sleeping when the flooding began.

http://uk.reuters.co...E8680PE20120709