Several people have been reported missing as torrential rains in Russia's Krasnodar region continue to flood 70 residential areas and 34 homes in the villages of Defanovka, Moldavanovka and Novomikhailovsky, the regional Emergency Situations Ministry reported on August 3.

Russia has been hit hard this summer with flash floods and extreme heat waves across multiple regions. This summer, the effects of climate change in Russia have been especially pronounced, with extreme weather becoming more frequent and more severe across the country.

In the region, temporary accommodation centres with 100 places have been prepared. Emergency services dispatched 48 specialists and six units of special equipment to flooded areas, with more than 150 people and 44 units of equipment involved in eliminating the consequences of the flooding.

Local resident Natalia, who was affected by the disaster, told Izvestia she could not have evacuated her home without rescuers' help. "Emergency services staff helped us with a fire truck, they led us out by rope.

The water flow was strong, we would not have evacuated on our own," she explained.

According to Natalia, a thunderstorm raged outside her window at night, and closer to morning tornadoes hit the village. She is now staying with her children at a temporary accommodation centre organised at a school in Novomikhailovsky village.

Earlier on August 4, authorities issued a storm warning for the Kuban region due to heavy precipitation. Officials said water levels on rivers and waterways in the southwestern part of Krasnodar region and the Black Sea coast from Anapa to Magri were expected to rise until the end of the day and on the morning and afternoon of August 4.

The flooding later caused a bridge collapse in Defanovka village, where a bus with passengers fell from the bridge into a river. All 25 people were rescued.

Earlier in the summer, central regions, notably Moscow, saw flash floods following torrential rainstorms, sometimes receiving a month’s worth of rain in a few hours.

These events closely followed periods of intense heat, indicating sharper weather swings, which scientists attribute to climate change.

The water broke the bridge structure in half, with part of it floating away with the current, whilst another wooden bridge sank underwater after being unable to withstand the force of the flow.

Earlier in July, St Petersburg was hit with the worst flood in 160 years as the water level in the Neva surged thanks to heavy rain.

Authorities in Russia’s northern capital declared a yellow-level danger warning as the Neva burst its banks and began to flooded the historic city.