At least 11 people died in southern Russia in a flash flood triggered by strong rains, a regional official told RIA Novosti news agency Saturday.

"According to the latest information, 11 people have been killed and three are reported missing" following an early morning flood near Tuapse, a Black Sea coastal town in Russia's Krasnodar region, Vladimir Prigoda was quoted as saying.

"Seven villages and 17 small settlements were flooded" after strong rains in the mountains, the emergency situations ministry in Krasnodar region said on its website earlier.

The flash flood caused two mountain rivers to overflow, forcing the evacuation of 280 residents, the statement said.

By morning, most of the water has receded from the settlements, a regional ministry spokesman told RIA Novosti.

The Tuapse district declared a state of emergency, while President Dmitry Medvedev's spokeswoman said he had told regional governor Viktor Bassargin to ensure support for the victims, the agency said.