The death toll from recent downpours and floods in southern Russia reached 144 by Sunday morning, as the country was grappling with one of its worst floodings in decades.

In the rain-swept Krasnodar region, "144 people have died, of which five were killed by electric shocks," the Russian Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Local media said many residents were killed by floodwaters on late Friday night, when most of them were asleep.

Around 80 others, including 13 children, had been hospitalized, the ministry said, adding that another 205 people, including 48 children, had asked for medical aids.

According to the ministry, intensive relief operations were continuing in the region, which had been struck by rains and floods since Friday. Krymsk, Gelendzhik and Novorossiisk were the three districts most severely hit.

"Up to 600 policemen are working in Krymsk and they have rescued some 300 people, including 150 children," the ministry said.
The Emergency Situations Ministry said Sunday that nearly 30,000 people in Krasnodar had suffered from a blackout due to flooding and more than 5,100 houses were hit by waters.

President Vladimir Putin flew to Krasnodar on Saturday evening and held emergency meetings with local authorities on the flooding, one of the worst in decades.

Krasnodar's governor, Alexander Tkachyov, has declared Monday as the day of mourning for flood victims.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet