Powerful storm pounds the Black Sea region, leaving more than a half-million people without power

By The Associated Press

A powerful weekend storm in the Black Sea region toppled trees, tore down power lines and caused coastal flooding, and government officials and media reports said more than half a million people were without power in southern Russia and Ukraine. The storm caused several regions of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, to declare emergencies. In the Russian resort of Sochi, seaside areas were flooded. Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy said more than 2,000 towns and villages were without power. The storms were part of a weather system that created blizzard-like conditions in Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria and Serbia on Sunday, dumping snow and causing power outages and fatal traffic accidents. Heavy snow also hit the Moscow region.