Power back on in Karelia, Russia

Electrical power in Karelia in northwestern Russia, interrupted by heavy rains that flooded a hydroelectric plant, has resumed, a government spokeswoman said. Oksana Semyonova, of the local branch of the Emergency Situations Ministry, said Friday an alternate power plant was supplying electricity to the town of Sosnovets in Karelia. Late Wednesday a dam was destroyed by the rains, flooding the Matkozhnenskaya plant and suspending its operations, Russian news service Prime Tass Business News reported Friday. The rains also flooded villages and washed away rail beds, the ITAR-Tass news agency said Friday. "The situation has stabilized. The electrical supplies system is being restored," Russian Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov said.