Russia: Death toll from freak storm rises to 16

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA

At least 16 people died when freak winds and torrential rain hit the Russian capital Moscow on Monday, officials said Tuesday.

Andrei Vorobyov, governor of the Moscow province, said Tuesday that five people were killed by the storm there, bringing the death toll to 16.

Earlier in the day, Svetlana Petrenko, spokeswomen of the Russian Investigative Committee, said 11 had died in the city of Moscow, according to the official TASS news agency.

TASS reported on Monday that the hurricane had gusts of up to 28 meters per second and torrential-like showers.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.

"Our capital endured such a natural cataclysm," Peskov was quoted as saying by TASS, adding that Moscow authorities are working hard to address the effects of the storm.

Alexei Khripun, head of the Moscow Health Department, said on Tuesday that more than 150 people had applied for medical help.

According to TASS, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on Monday called the storm "unprecedented".

Sobyanin said that about 3,500 trees were uprooted.