The death toll from a flood at Russia's largest hydroelectric power plant rose to 74 on Tuesday, investigators said, after they recovered another body more than three weeks after the disaster.
"Today in the investigation of the wreckage at the Sayano-Shushenskaya power plant the body of a 74th fatality was found and recovered," the investigative committee of Russian prosecutors said in a statement.
One person remains missing and is believed dead after the August 17 disaster at the dam in southern Siberia, which occurred when a technical fault caused water to engulf the plant's turbine hall, trapping 75 workers.
Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the incident, but attention has focussed recently on ageing equipment at the power plant and whether it had been maintained properly.
On Monday, the head of Russia's federal Audit Chamber revealed that a 2007 inspection of the dam had found that 85 per cent of the equipment there needed replacement.
"After an inspection two years ago at Sayano-Shushenskaya power plant, we concluded that 85 per cent of the technical equipment was worn out," Audit Chamber head Sergei Stepashin said, quoted by Interfax news agency.
{{/usCountry}}"After an inspection two years ago at Sayano-Shushenskaya power plant, we concluded that 85 per cent of the technical equipment was worn out," Audit Chamber head Sergei Stepashin said, quoted by Interfax news agency.
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