Flash floods kill 140 in southern Russia

Moscow – Russian officials say at least 140 people have been killed and thousands have been affected by floods after torrential rains in the south of the country.

Authorities said Saturday that storms, floods and a landslide have affected the southern Krasnodarsky Krai region. Streets are flooded after two days of rain; some cars disappeared in the floods or were overturned by flooding.

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

At least 25 people, including a 10-year-old boy, died in the region around the town Krymsk – by far the worst-hit area.

Some users of social media networks in Russia said the town looked liked it was hit “by a tsunami”. Others accused the authorities of not telling the whole truth about the disaster.

At least nine died in Gelendzhik and two in Novorossiysk. There are fears that the death toll will rise further.

Hundreds of properties have been flooded and the Krasnodar-Novorossiysk road was cut. The transport system in the region is said to have collapsed.

Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov is on his way to the region.

Up to 1,000 rescuers are involved in searching for victims and evacuating survivors.

“The floods were very strong. Even traffic lights were ripped out,” regional police spokesman Igor Zhelyabin told AFP news agency, adding that evacuations were under way.

Regional governor Alexander Tkachev tweeted after flying over the affected area that there was “something unimaginable” going on in Krymsk.