Jun 06, 2023 at 06:53Update: 2 minutes ago
The dam at the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Nova Kakhovka has collapsed. People living in the danger zone are evacuated.
Water flows from a water reservoir to the Dnipro River and towards the Black Sea, Ukraine and Russia’s state news agency TASS confirm. The dam is located about 60 kilometers east of the city of Kherson. According to the governor of southern Kherson region, the water could rise “to critical height” within hours.
It is unclear what caused the dam collapse and who is responsible. Both Ukraine and Russia claim that the opposing side blew up the dam. Both sides say they observed explosions. Not only the dam would have blown up, but also the power station at the dam.
There are fears of flooding in parts of Ukraine, which could exacerbate the country’s energy problems.
Ukrainian police are evacuating residents in the possible flood area. Everyone in the danger zone must also shut off all electrical equipment because of the rapidly rising water.
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Also fear for water supply Crimea and nuclear power plant
In addition, the dam has a large reservoir that supplies water to the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, and to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. That water supply can therefore run into problems.
As a result, the nuclear power plant may have to deal with lower water levels, while the power plant needs water to cool the nuclear reactors. Energoatom, the Ukrainian national nuclear energy company, reported at 8 a.m. Tuesday morning that the situation is under control for the time being and that the nuclear power plant currently has enough cooling water.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the emergency at the dam.
The area north of the Dnipro is in Ukrainian hands, the area south of the river is in Russian hands.
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