Accessibility links

Breaking News

Death Toll Rises To Five In Flood-Stricken Siberian Region

Updated

Officials have declared a state of emergency in Irkutsk due to the flooding.
Officials have declared a state of emergency in Irkutsk due to the flooding.

Russian emergency officials have raised the death toll to five people and say that at least six settlements are still cut off following devastating flooding that has forced hundreds of evacuations in southern Siberia.

The Emergency Situations Ministry on June 29 said some 350 people had been injured in the floods, and 100 were being treated in area hospitals.

The ministry said that an IL-76 plane had arrived in the region late on June 29 with emergency supplies.

The state-run TASS news agency said more than 4,000 residences, 16 roads, and 13 bridges in 27 towns and villages had been affected by the floods, which hit the region just west of Lake Baikal.


The ministry also said that more flooding was likely in coming days.

President Vladimir Putin flew into the city of Bratsk, northwest of Baikal, on June 29 as he returned to Russia from the Group of 20 summit in Japan.

  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL

    RFE/RL journalists report the news in 27 languages in 23 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. We provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG