Moscow
Eight dead while walking through sewers after heavy rain
Divers combed the Moskva River, where some of the bodies are said to have been discovered
© Vladimir Gerdo / Picture Alliance
Eight people have died in Moscow’s underground sewers amid heavy rains. The victims had taken part in a guided tour and were trapped by the rising water.
Amid heavy rains in Moscow, eight people have died while on a tour of the Russian capital’s underground canals. The victims could not have saved themselves from a sudden rise in water, the state investigative committee said on Tuesday. One of the organizers of the tour was arrested and charged.
According to media reports, the tour leader and all seven participants were killed in the accident on Sunday. According to the state news agency Tass, the water level in the underground sewer system rose rapidly after heavy rain. The tour participants were apparently trapped by the rising water and could not escape in time. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin spoke of a “terrible tragedy”.
Moscow’s sewers are a tourist attraction
Videos shared online showed investigators looking into a manhole cover and divers combing the Moskva River, where some of the bodies are said to have been discovered.
The Moscow sewers are a popular tourist attraction. A number of organizers offer guided tours through the huge tunnels, some of which date from the 19th century. The legality of the tours is disputed.