Russia declares flooding emergency in Dagestan capital

Authorities in the capital of Russia’s southern Dagestan region declared a state of emergency after heavy rains caused widespread flooding and power outages in the region.

“Emergency services have been put on high alert, efforts are underway to deal with the aftermath and assistance will be provided to affected residents,” Makhachkala city government said in a statement on Telegram. he said.

More than 327,000 people were left without electricity in Dagestan due to bad weather conditions, the Regional Ministry of Emergencies said.

It was stated on the ministry’s website that “As of 12:00, there is a power outage in 283 settlements with a population of 327 thousand 183, including 89 thousand 705 children.”

Regional chief Sergei Melikov said emergency services and authorities were preparing for worsening weather conditions, but the actual situation “exceeded even the most pessimistic forecasts.”

Officials in Khasavyurt, the second largest city of Dagestan, said that the railway bridge was damaged due to heavy rainfall.

“Two spans of the bridge on the Khasavyurt-Kadiyurt section of the North Caucasus Railway collapsed,” the press service of the Dagestan government said. he said.

According to forecasts, heavy rainfall in the region will continue until Sunday.