The Crimean city of Yalta on Friday announced a state of emergency, closed entry points and appealed to the Russian Navy for support after heavy rains battered the Moscow-annexed peninsula, triggering floods.
Yalta's declaration followed a region-wide state of emergency on Thursday after a cyclone struck the Black Sea peninsula and began lashing it with heavy rains.
On Thursday night alone, the peninsular was inundated with double the average monthly rainfall, according to estimates from Crimea's meteorological service. It predicted that the storm would subside by Monday.
Images circulating on social media Friday showed water rushing through Yalta's streets, sweeping aside cars and reaching up to the second story of buildings.
In a video address to residents, Yalta's head Yanina Pavlenko announced a state of emergency and said entry points to the city would be closed.
She said people in flooded areas were being evacuated from their homes but asked those who were not in immediate danger to stay put.
She later told journalists that she had appealed to the Russian Black Sea Fleet for support in evacuating residents.
The Crimean branch of the emergencies ministry said Friday that 49 people had been evacuated.
Pavlenko also asked residents to stock up on drinking water as the city would be temporarily shutting off its water supply, though she did not provide details on timing.
Russian news agencies reported that the flooding had affected the quality of Yalta's water treatment.
In a statement Friday, Crimea's largest state energy provider said the rainfall had left about 2,700 people without electricity.
The head of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, said that he would appeal to President Vladimir Putin for financial assistance to cover the damage from the storm as well as compensate victims.
Aksyonov had caused his own storm on social media on Thursday after video showed him touring the flooded city of Kerch by boat with three men swimming in its wake that he said were employees of the local emergencies ministry.
Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, a takeover that was not recognized by most countries.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
