At least 45 killed as torrential rains, floods hit southern Russia MOSCOW - At least 45 people died in floods after torrential rains in Russia's southern Krasnodar region near the Black Sea, a spokesman for local police said on Saturday. In Krymsk district 34 died, 11 more bodies were found in Novorossiisk and Gelendzhik. Police is beefing up its presence to prevent mass looting," spokesman Igor Zhelyabin said. According to the BBC there were reports indicating the floods came in the middle of the night with no warning. The floods were very strong. Even traffic lights were ripped out," he said according to the AFP news agency. The BBC reported that crude oil shipments from Novorossiisk, a Black Sea port, have been affected. Emergency teams were on their way from Moscow via helicopter and plane, the BBC said. Msnbc.com staff and Reuters contributed to this report.