The dam near the Russian city of Nova Kakhovka in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson has been destroyed. This is confirmed by both the Russian state news agency TASS and Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities are evacuating villages in the flooded area.
The water flows from a tank into the Dnipro River, towards the Black Sea. The dam is located about 60 kilometers east of the city of Kherson. It is unclear what caused the dam to collapse or who is responsible. Both Ukraine and Russia say the opposing side blew up the dam.
The dam is located in the Ukrainian Dnipro River and holds back a huge reservoir of water. The dam itself is 30 meters high, hundreds of meters long and was built in 1956 as part of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station.
According to The Guardian, the reservoir holds about the same volume as Utah’s Great Salt Lake. If the dam were to collapse, a wall of water could inundate settlements below, including Kherson, which was retaken by Ukrainian forces in late 2022.
The reservoir’s water supplies water to the southern Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, and to the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, to the north. It also helps power the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station. The destruction of the dam would further aggravate Ukraine’s current energy problems.
Evacuation
The National Police of Ukraine is urging the evacuation and shutdown of electrical devices. These are the villages in potential flood areas on the right bank of the Dnipro River: Mykolaivka, Olhivka, Lyovo, Tyaginka, Poniativka, Ivanovka, Tokarivka, Poniativka, Prydniprovske, Sadove and partly the city of Kherson.
Police say the water level is rising and anyone in the danger zone should turn off electrical devices, carry documents and other supplies, and follow the instructions of rescuers.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
