(Dan Tri) – The water level in the Dnipro River increased sharply after the Nova Kakhovka dam collapsed, forcing Ukraine to plan to evacuate thousands of people in this area.
Nova Kakhovka Dam in Kherson partially collapsed on June 6 (Photo: Reuters).
The Kherson government announced today, June 6, that the water level in the Dnipro River has increased by more than 10 meters in Nova Kakhovka city in Kherson province after the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric dam broke.
Vladimir Leontyev, head of the Nova Kakhovka city government appointed by Russia, accused Ukrainian forces of detonating the dam.
`We have to survive the next 72 hours,` Mr. Leontyev said.
Mr. Leontyev said local authorities had begun evacuating people from riverside settlements, including the towns of Korsunska and Dniepriany as well as neighboring territories, with about 300 buildings left vacant.
Andrey Alekseenko, leader of the Kherson administration, said 14 settlements with 22,000 residents could be flooded.
The strategic hydroelectric dam in Kherson collapsed (Source: RT).
According to local officials, the Nova Kakhovka dam was `destroyed due to an attack` by Ukrainian forces.
However, Ukrainian officials denied the allegations.
President Zelensky has issued an emergency evacuation order.
`At 2:50, Russia carried out an explosion inside the structures of the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant. About 80 settlements are in the flood zone. People were ordered to evacuate high-risk areas.
Location of Kakhovka Dam (Graphic: Reuters)
The Ukrainian military accused Russia of blowing up the dam to prevent Ukrainian forces from crossing the Dnipro River ahead of Kiev’s counteroffensive campaign.
Nova Kakhovka Dam is located on the Dnipro River, about 30km east of the city of Kherson, and is part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant.
Since Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine, the Nova Kakhovka Dam has been considered a potential target because of its strategic importance and the damage it could cause if destroyed.
Kherson province in southern Ukraine is considered an important link in Russia’s strategy to establish a land corridor from the Crimean peninsula to Eastern and Southern Ukraine.