The death toll in Russia’s southern Krasnodar Region, hit by disastrous floods, keeps rising and has reached the number of 141 people, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry said on Sunday.
Earlier reports said that 130 people were killed in Russia’s worst in decades floods that affected several cities and residential areas in Krasnodar region, including Gelendzhik, Novorossiysk as well as Krymsk, a town with the population of 57,000 people, located some 87 kilometers (54 miles) from Krasnodar.
“As of 1:00 a.m. Moscow time [9:00 p.m. GMT Saturday], the number of victims in the town of Krymsk climbed by seven and stands at 130 people. The numbers of victims in the cities of Novorossiysk and Gelendzhik remain the same at stand at two and nine respectively,” the spokesman said.
The Russian Interior Ministry said that policemen involved in relief operations in the worst-hit town of Krymsk rescued 150 children.
“Up to 600 policemen are working in Krymsk and they have rescued some 300 people, including 150 children,” the statement from the ministry said.
Krymsk district was swept by the flood on Friday night when most of the people were asleep.
The governor of Krasnodar region, Alexander Tkachyov, has declared July 9 day of mourning for victims of the flood.
In 2002, over 60 people were killed in floods that hit Krasnodar region in January during the abnormally warm winter.
