(Reuters) – The bodies of four individuals have been discovered in Moscow’s sewer system and several others are still missing after becoming trapped by heavy rain during a guided tour underground, the TASS state news agency reported on Monday.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called it a “horrendous calamity”, without specifying the number of victims. He said the search for missing people was ongoing, and investigators were establishing details of what occurred.
TASS said authorities had initiated a criminal case and the organizers of the tour were being interrogated. It described the expedition as unlawful. Another agency, RIA, said a total of eight individuals were believed to have participated.
Intense rainfall in Moscow on Sunday caused water levels in the sewage system to surge, preventing the individuals from escaping to the surface, TASS quoted rescue workers as saying.
The deceased included a company employee, his 15-year-old daughter and 17-year-old nephew, social media sites reported. Reuters could not confirm the reports.
Several tour operators provide guided excursions of Moscow’s expansive underground network, including sections with origins tracing to the 19th century.
(Writing by Gareth Jones; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
