45 Dead in Russian Storms, Crude Oil Shipments Halted

[phantom power]

MOSCOW - At least 45 people died and thousands of houses were flooded after torrential rains, storms and landslides hit Russia's Krasnodar region near the Black Sea, a local police spokesperson told Reuters on Saturday.

Novorossiisk, Russia's largest Black Sea port, halted crude oil shipments on Saturday, a spokesperson for oil pipeline operator Transneft told Reuters.

"In Krymsk district 34 died, 11 more bodies were found in Novorossiisk and Gelendzhik. Police is beefing up its presence to prevent mass looting," police spokesperson Igor Zhelyabin said.

The Emergencies Ministry said an average month's rain has fallen in the region within just a few hours.

http://ewn.co.za/2012/07/07/45%20die%20in%20floods%20in%20Russia%20port%20hit.aspx

[eppur_se_muova]

1. BBC now says more than 100 ....

Russia flash floods: 100 killed in Krasnodar region

Flash floods caused by torrential rain have swept the southern Russian Krasnodar region, killing more than 100 people, 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 92 people died around the worst-hit town of Krymsk.
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Some users of social media networks in Russia said Krymsk looked liked it was hit "by a tsunami". Others accused the authorities of not telling the whole truth about the disaster.
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more (including video): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18751198