On Sunday, August 20, a guide accompanied by seven tourists met a tragic fate while exploring Moscow’s sewer system. This event occurred when the group was caught beneath the city due to intense rainfalls over the weekend. The Russian state media verified the unfortunate outcome.
The group was on a journey to explore the Neglinka River, which flows through Moscow using a series of historical tunnels that originated in the 19th century. Persistent rain caused the tunnel to fill up, eventually trapping and washing the group into the Moskva River.
Search and rescue efforts were immediately initiated, involving divers to scan the waters. The deceased individuals were located in the vicinity of Zaryadye Park, a central location in Moscow, as confirmed by the BBC. An official from the rescue team stated that all were found deceased, concluding the search operations.
The incident is under investigation by authorities to ascertain if there were any violations of safety protocols during the tour. Three individuals were responsible for organizing the tour; one is now facing legal charges while another has allegedly fled to the United Arab Emirates.
Of the victims, the identities of three have been revealed: a staff member of the touring company, his 15-year-old daughter, and a 17-year-old nephew.
Moscow’s Mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, conveyed his sorrow over the incident, describing it as a grave misfortune.
Ria news agency mentioned that originally, more than 20 individuals intended to join the tour. However, many opted out due to predicted bad weather conditions.