Rescue workers are currently aiding the evacuation of residents from a flooded neighborhood in Kherson, Ukraine. The destruction of the Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in Nova Kakhovka has caused significant damage to homes and poses a threat to the residents, animals, crops, and public infrastructure in the area. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has referred to the collapse of the dam as an “environmental bomb of mass destruction,” which he attributed to Russia.
The Kakhovka dam, which is part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant in the Kherson region of Ukraine, has been occupied by Russia as part of their ongoing war against Ukraine. The Dnipro River serves as the frontline between Russian and Ukrainian forces. Both Russia and Ukraine are blaming each other for the destruction of the dam, with U.S. agencies suggesting that Russia is responsible.
The dam is incredibly massive, standing at 98 feet tall and stretching 2 miles long. The reservoir it created holds 4.3 cubic miles of water, which is equivalent to the volume of the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Releasing such a large quantity of water will have severe repercussions.
More than 40,000 people residing along the Dnipro River are at risk of flooding, according to the Ukrainian government. Both Russian and Ukrainian authorities have ordered evacuations. Footage from Kherson shows rooftops floating down the river, and floodwaters are expected to reach their peak by Wednesday. Residents are stranded on the roofs of their homes, waiting to be rescued.
In addition to the immediate threat of drowning, flooding poses various health risks. Floodwaters pick up debris and contaminants from the buildings they submerge, including dangerous chemicals from industrial facilities, human and animal waste, downed power lines, and sharp objects. Contact with these hazards can result in injuries, skin rashes, gastrointestinal illness, and tetanus. The contamination of wells, aquifers, and reservoirs also renders drinking water unsafe.
The destruction of the dam has also caused damage to key infrastructure. Approximately 12,000 people in the Kherson region have lost power due to the flooding, and there may be issues with water supply. The nearby Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant relies on water from the Dnieper River for cooling its emergency diesel generators and reactors. Although the water supply is depleting, experts affirm that there is no immediate risk to the safety of the plant. The water supply for the Crimean Peninsula, which comes from the river, is also at risk.
The flooding has resulted in the loss of farm animals and the destruction of crops. All animals, except for swans and ducks, at the Kazkova Dibrova zoo in Russian-occupied Nova Kakhovka have drowned. Ukraine is a major exporter of wheat, and the flooding is expected to significantly damage crops. As a result, wheat and corn prices have risen on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
The short-term impact of the flooding includes damage to grain silos and other equipment situated in low-lying areas along the river. The extent of the damage and the amount of rotting grain is currently unclear. The long-term impact is expected to be more severe and will have far-reaching consequences.
