Eight die on Moscow sewer tour after being trapped during flood

A guide and seven people were killed while touring the Moscow sewer system after becoming trapped beneath the city during severe flooding over the weekend, Russian state news reported.

The group had been touring the Neglinka River, which flows beneath the city through a network of historic tunnels dating back to the 19th century.

Severe rains on Sunday flooded the Neglinka tunnels, trapping the victims inside before finally washing them out into the Moskva River.

A search effort was launched, with divers finally locating most of the victims in the Moskva near Zaryadye Park in the center of the city, BBC reported.

“Now all eight participants in the excursion have been found. They all died. The search operation is at an end,” a rescue worker told the Russian state outlet TASS.

An investigation has been opened into the tour group, which authorities suspect may have been flouting safety standards in the tunnels.

Three people were involved in organizing the tour, authorities said. One has been charged but another reportedly fled to the United Arab Emirates.

So far the identities of three of the victims have been released, according to Reuters — an employee who worked for the tour company, and his both 15-year-old daughter and 17-year-old nephew.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called the deaths a “terrible tragedy.”

Over 20 people originally planned to join the tour, Ria news agency reported, but most backed out over the weather reports.