Siberian dam disaster body count reaches 17 with 58 more missing

KHAKASIA. August 20. KAZINFORM The official death toll from an accident four days ago at Russia's largest hydropower plant in south Siberia reached 17 on Thursday, with another 58 people still unaccounted for, rescuers said on Thursday; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.

The latest two bodies were found in the Sayano-Shushenskaya plant's ninth generating unit, a spokesperson for the rescue team said.

The search for the missing people is continuing, and water is being continually pumped out of the turbine room which was flooded early on Monday morning after an explosion, but the chances of finding anyone else alive are now believed to be very low; Kazinform has learnt from RIA Novosti.

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