Russia fires official over slack flood response
July 10, 2012, Tuesday
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THE first head rolled yesterday over the floods in southern Russia that killed at least 171 people as the authorities blamed local officials for failing to warn locals in time of the looming calamity.
In the worst-hit Krymsk town, where most of the deaths occurred, the locals' anger at the authorities did not subside over lack of information and help as the first victims were laid to rest in a nearby cemetery.
Yesterday was also a day of mourning for those killed by the country's worst flooding of recent history, with flags flying at half-mast over the Kremlin and entertainment programs shelved on national television.
The region's governor Alexander Tkachev tried to moderate public fury yesterday by firing the head of Krymsk district. Initially he was quoted as saying that the Krymsk mayor was also fired, however, his quote was later modified on the Krasnodar region administration website, explaining it only as a "technical mistake."
"It has been proven that the (Krymsk) district officials received a flood warning at least three hours before it began," Tkachev said at a meeting.
The force of the flood along with lack of warning and information bred theories that it was caused by the opening of sluice gates at a nearby reservoir. The rumors persisted even after President Vladimir Putin was told on national TV that this was impossible, forcing the governor to take some locals to the reservoir in a helicopter.
Putin held a meeting in Moscow to discuss the floods aftermath and called for a "detailed and absolutely objective" investigation into possible violations by responsible officials.
Nearly 35,000 people lost part or all of their belongings in the flooding, the emergencies ministry said yesterday. Emergencies minister Vladimir Puchkov confirmed that "certain officials and services made clear mistakes" and failed to warn people adequately.
In the worst-hit Krymsk town, where most of the deaths occurred, the locals' anger at the authorities did not subside over lack of information and help as the first victims were laid to rest in a nearby cemetery.
Yesterday was also a day of mourning for those killed by the country's worst flooding of recent history, with flags flying at half-mast over the Kremlin and entertainment programs shelved on national television.
The region's governor Alexander Tkachev tried to moderate public fury yesterday by firing the head of Krymsk district. Initially he was quoted as saying that the Krymsk mayor was also fired, however, his quote was later modified on the Krasnodar region administration website, explaining it only as a "technical mistake."
"It has been proven that the (Krymsk) district officials received a flood warning at least three hours before it began," Tkachev said at a meeting.
The force of the flood along with lack of warning and information bred theories that it was caused by the opening of sluice gates at a nearby reservoir. The rumors persisted even after President Vladimir Putin was told on national TV that this was impossible, forcing the governor to take some locals to the reservoir in a helicopter.
Putin held a meeting in Moscow to discuss the floods aftermath and called for a "detailed and absolutely objective" investigation into possible violations by responsible officials.
Nearly 35,000 people lost part or all of their belongings in the flooding, the emergencies ministry said yesterday. Emergencies minister Vladimir Puchkov confirmed that "certain officials and services made clear mistakes" and failed to warn people adequately.
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