A series of powerful storms have wreaked havoc along Russia’s coastline and the Crimean Peninsula, claiming three lives and plunging nearly two million people into darkness.
The catastrophic event, which started last Friday, has prompted urgent evacuations and emergency responses across the affected regions.
According to TASS, Russia’s primary news agency, the storm claimed its victims in varied locations: one in the popular Sochi resort, another in Crimea, and the third aboard a vessel navigating the turbulent waters of the Kerch Strait.
This strait is a critical geographical point, connecting the Crimean Peninsula to mainland Russia.
The ferocity of the storms was captured in a harrowing online video, showing massive waves engulfing the Sochi seafront and forcefully sweeping cars away.
In Crimea, particularly in the city of Yevpatoria, streets were submerged under floodwaters, highlighting the severity of the situation.
In response to the escalating crisis, the governors of both the Crimean Peninsula and Sevastopol, appointed by Russia, have declared a state of emergency.
This move signifies the dire nature of the calamity and the need for immediate and coordinated disaster response efforts.
This tragic event underscores the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather phenomena, likely exacerbated by climate change.
As the region grapples with the aftermath, the focus now shifts to relief and recovery efforts for the affected communities.