In an unprecedented climatic event, a fierce storm struck Russia’s coastline and the Crimean Peninsula on Monday, claiming three lives and displacing hundreds. The Russian news agency TASS reported casualties in Sochi, Crimea, and aboard a ship in the Kerch Strait, which separates Crimea from mainland Russia.
Storms have been sweeping the Black Sea region since Friday-Reuters
The Black Sea region has been battered by storms since Friday. Viral video footage depicted towering waves inundating Sochi’s seafront, sweeping away vehicles. The streets of Yevpatoria in Crimea were submerged under floodwaters.
On Sunday, a major storm, dubbed “Bettina” by meteorologists, hit Crimea with huge waves and coastal flooding. Ukraine says the storm as damaged Russian coastal defences. Here are 3 clips from Sochi. pic.twitter.com/luVSywjWTy
— Mike (@Doranimated) November 27, 2023
Russian-appointed governors of Crimea and Sevastopol declared a state of emergency. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Services evacuated over 350 individuals from affected areas.
Further havoc was caused by power outages affecting approximately 1.9 million residents in Dagestan, Krasnodar, Rostov in southern Russia, and Crimea, as confirmed by the Ministry of Energy. The power failure occurred Monday morning due to the storm.
In neighboring Ukraine, a snowstorm led to power cuts in over 2000 towns and the closure of highways.
