Now the consequences of breaking the dam are becoming visible: “We are drowning here” – the level in Kherson is rising

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In desperation, people flee to the roofs of their houses. After the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, 18.2 billion cubic meters of water will flow to the surrounding cities downstream towards Kherson. The level of the Dnieper suddenly rose, taking everything with it. “Where is the evacuation?” someone writes desperately in the locally set up chat rooms.

She’s not alone. Many beg for help. “There is shooting, there we drown – what kind of life is that?” a woman from Kherson told Radio Svoboda. “Everything here will be destroyed,” says a man, pointing to the area. “Everything will swim away.”

There is a state of emergency in the region around Kherson and Nowa Kakhovka. The left bank of the Dnieper River is controlled by Russian occupiers, the right bank is recaptured by Ukraine. Both sides are affected by the flood.

No rescue in sight

“You have no idea what is happening on Linkeroever,” a man writes in the chat. Ukrainian UN representative Serhiy Kislizia (53) accused Russia before the Security Council that although the occupiers had time to get to safety, the Ukrainian people had been completely abandoned. “Of the Russian-occupied part, the occupiers are not even trying to help the people,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (45) accused Russia.

“The water has reached the roof, they have nowhere to go, they will drown. Help, my family is here! » wrote a woman from the town of Oleschky with a population of 25,000 in a local chat.

So far, Oleschky has been the hardest hit by the floods and is controlled by the Russian occupiers. Although Russia has appointed emergency services, many report that no rescue is in sight. Everyone who has a boat tries to free people from the houses on their own.

“I have no place for all the animals, it breaks my heart”

“We just swim through our garden,” says a resident who is looking for survivors in a dinghy. Entire villages are under water. “Is someone here?” calls another. Only roofs and treetops give an idea that there is a residential area under water.

The situation is also dramatic for the animals. The zoo in Nowa Kachowka was one of the first places to be inundated by the water masses. Apart from a few swans and ducks, none of the approximately 300 animals could be saved.

“I have five dogs and a family. I don’t have room for all the animals, it breaks my heart,” says a woman from Hola Prystan. The city was 80 percent under water on Wednesday morning.

Seven people are missing

Although the water level in Nowa Kachowka is falling, it could rise to more meters in surrounding towns in the next three days and completely flood the towns. In many regions there is no electricity. The residents are also unable to contact the authorities.

Water is becoming scarce as many places are cut off from the supply due to the destroyed reservoir. Seven people are still missing, Russian-appointed mayor Vladimir Leontiev said.

Source: Blick