Additional rainfall adds to flooding across Europe

Additional rainfall adds to flooding across Europe

MOSCOW -- The death toll from flooding that swept through holiday resorts and scenic villages in Russia's Black Sea Coast rose to 55 on Sunday, according to the Krasnodar region's Emergency Situations Ministry.

Most of those killed were local residents and died of drowning, emergency officials said on Russian television.

The flooding left picturesque beaches in the south of Russia littered with debris, fallen trees and the ruined hulks of swept-away cars. Homes and shops were washed away, and roads and bridges destroyed by the current.

Both residents and tourists, who descend on the region during their summer vacations, were left stranded.

On Sunday, the sun shone brightly, providing relief to crews dispatched to help in the cleanup efforts.

In southern Germany, it rained again Sunday, adding to troubles in areas around already swollen rivers that have caused significant damage.

Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg states both declared emergencies as weekend rains washed out roads, caused landslides and flooded homes.

Worst hit was the southeastern portion of Baden-Wuerttemberg. In the city of Reutlingen, south of Stuttgart, roads and buildings were completely under water, causing electrical systems to short-circuit and spark fires.

In the southern Bavarian town of Moosach, residents had to be evacuated from their homes by boat, and in nearby Glonn, water was as high as the windows of many houses.

The only storm-related fatality, however, was reported in Lower Saxony when a 31-year-old man was killed when he lost control of the Red Cross van he was driving and hit a tree.

In Austria, a dam burst Sunday night in the town of Zwettl, submerging 50 to 60 houses, the Austria Press Agency reported. Floodwaters fed by torrential rains were rising at a rate of 2 1/2 inches every 10 minutes. Homeowners were frantically piling sandbags to protect threatened houses and businesses.

No injuries were immediately reported, and rescuers were working to get the affected residents to higher ground.

Elsewhere in the province of Lower Austria, an afternoon deluge raised water levels in the Kamp River by 5 feet, Austrian radio reported. The river was rising so quickly that authorities were considering evacuating thousands of homeowners.

A total of 65 people, including those in Russia, have died in floods throughout Europe in the past week.