Russia's Dagestan to compensate families after deadly floods, regional head says

Families of those killed in severe flooding in Russia’s North Caucasus Republic of Dagestan will receive financial assistance from the regional reserve fund, the head of the republic, Sergey Melikov, said at a meeting of the emergency response headquarters.

“The consequences of yesterday’s flood proved to be more devastating than those of the first wave,” Melikov said, stressing that support for the relatives of the deceased must be provided “immediately,” Caliber.Az reports via the Republic's administration head’s press service.

The flooding has affected several areas across the Republic of Dagestan. On April 5, in the village of Kirk in the Kaitag district, a landslide destroyed a residential house, killing a woman. Authorities have opened a criminal case on charges of causing death by negligence.

Earlier, on April 5, the dam at the Gedzhu Reservoir burst, sending water into nearby areas. Emergency services rescued several people from the floodwaters. Officials later confirmed that a woman and a child who had been pulled from the water subsequently died.

In the regional capital, Makhachkala, part of a multi-storey residential building collapsed amid the flooding. Residents of neighbouring buildings were evacuated as a precaution.

Melikov said that persistent flooding problems in the capital are “largely linked to the reckless development of the coastal zone” and instructed the regional Ministry of Construction to investigate officials responsible for issuing building permits in affected areas.

Authorities have not yet released an overall casualty figure or a full assessment of the damage.

By Sabina Mammadli