The death toll from recent rains and floods in southern Russia's Krasnodar territory has climbed to 172, the Interior Ministry said Tuesday.

Death toll from southern Russian floods rises to 144

"According to the Interior Ministry's crisis center, the disaster has killed 172 people, including 159 in Krymsk, 11 in Gelendzhik, and two in Novorossiisk," the ministry said.

According to the regional administration of Krasnodar, some 30,000 people have been affected by the floods.

Russian Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Puchkov said over 2 million rubles (some 61,000 U.S. dollars) would be allocated to the reconstruction of the destroyed houses in the region.

Since last Friday, the Krasnodar region has been struck by one of the worst downpours and floods in decades. Krymsk, Gelendzhik and Novorossiisk were the three districts most severely hit.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet