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Death toll from Russian power plant accident rises to 66

THE death toll from a recent accident at the Russia's largest hydropower plant rose to 66, the emergency situations minister today.

Sergei Shoigu said 66 bodies had been found by this morning, while nine people were still missing.

The powerful water surge, which flooded an engine room and damaged three turbines of the hydroelectric station on Monday, has made it difficult to determine the whereabouts of the missing people, Shoigu said.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited the site of the accident yesterday and promised compensation for the victims' families.

Meanwhile, Russian prosecutors dismissed Chechen rebels' claim that the disaster was caused by a terrorist attack.

The accident at the Siberian plant on the Yenisei River occurred Monday when its third and fourth culverts were damaged, destroying walls and submerging the engine room.

The accident shut down the plant, causing a severe energy shortfall in the region.

The plant's owner RusHydro has said it would take up to two years to repair the damage. Restoring the plant would cost at least 40 billion rubles (US$1.3 billion).




 

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