When heavy rains began in Moscow, the water rose sharply, and visitors to the “Sunday” had almost no chance to escape. A tour guide and seven members of the walking group were found dead after being trapped underground by flood waters from the Russian capital’s sewer system. The flooding caused by heavy rains over the weekend was so rapid that people had no chance to escape. The group was exploring the underground Neglinka, a tributary of the city’s main river, Moscow.
Search operations for the bodies have ended in the past few hours and we are now continuing to officially identify the dead. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the incident as a “terrible tragedy”. Most of the victims seem to have been dragged into the Moskva River and found by divers near Zaryadye Park in the city centre. An investigation was launched into the incident, which was described as an “illegal trip” due to the failure to meet all safety standards. Various tour companies offer sewer and underground tours of the city, many of which date back to the 19th century.
The identity of the three organizers of the tour has been determined. At least one was arrested and charged, while another would leave the country for the United Arab Emirates. The balance could have been even more disastrous. In fact, more than 20 people signed up for the tour at first, the Ria news agency reported, but then most of them did not show up due to the significantly worsening weather forecast.
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Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
