Southern Russia Cleans Up After Deadly Floods

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia —  Residents across southern Russia began shoveling mud from their soaked homes Sunday after flood waters that killed dozens and forced 55,000 to evacuate started to recede.

The death toll climbed to 48 by Sunday, and as many as 10 people were reported missing, said Lt. Col. Alexander Lemeshev at the regional Emergency Situations Ministry. Two rescue workers were among those killed.

The flooding, which began Tuesday after heavy rain, started to recede in some areas, and residents returned to homes that were thick with mud.

But as rescue workers scrambled to repair power lines and roads in some regions, other areas in southern Russia struggled with new flooding.

The Itar-Tass news agency reported that the Malka River broke through the dam in the city of Prokhladny on Sunday, washing away several houses and a bridge.