4 dead in floods hit south Russia

Severe flooding in south Russia on Wednesday killed four people and forced hundreds more to leave their homes, officials in the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) said. The most severe flooding occurred in the Black Sea resort village of Novomikhailovsky, some 1,280 kilometres south of the capital Moscow, the officials said. River overflow linked to overnight torrential rains and a tornado caused the flooding. Water at some locations was as much as two metres above normal levels, officials said. At least 1,800 local residents and tourists were forced to leave more than 600 residences made uninhabitable in Novomikhailovsky and four other villages, officials said.