Sochi begins evacuating residents from flooded areas
Officials in Sochi have begun evacuating residents from flooded areas, where heavy rains have pummeled the city. Earlier today, the mayor and region’s acting governor met to discuss the crisis, announcing several emergency measures.
Local officials are advising people in Sochi to remain in their homes, if possible, and to avoid in any event going near the coast, where tornadoes could form at sea and make their way to land, according to meteorologists.
Flooding in Sochi has already interrupted air and train travel to the area. Four plane en route to the city have already been rerouted to alternative airfields, and roughly 1,000 travelers have been stranded in Sochi, awaiting delayed departing flights. Train service along major passenger routes has also been suspended, due to the dangerous weather.
Earlier, the mayor demanded that officials establish control over the city’s bodies of water and waterworks facilities, placing them on around-the-clock monitoring, and ensure that the necessary transport is available, in the event that evacuation becomes necessary.