New Delhi: In a devastating incident early this morning, huge explosions rocked the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine, resulting in a significant breach. The hydroelectric station that the dam powers has also suffered severe damage.
As the situation unfolds, authorities have initiated mass evacuations in downstream villages, fearing the imminent threat of flooding.
Accusations and blame have already surfaced in the aftermath of the incident. Ukraine's military, as well as NATO, have pointed fingers at Russia, accusing them of deliberately detonating the dam.
However, Russia has vehemently denied these allegations and instead placed blame on Ukraine.
In response to the potential catastrophe, thousands of individuals residing in the surrounding areas are being urgently evacuated. Authorities are deeply concerned about the possibility of catastrophic flooding if preventive measures are not taken promptly.
The destruction caused by the explosions is evident, with the nearby bridge collapsing, and the rushing waters of the Dnieper River surging downstream. Numerous towns and villages in both Russian and Ukrainian-controlled parts of the Kherson area now face acute peril from potential flooding.
Oleksandr Prokudin, the governor of the province, has issued a warning that the water levels in these areas will reach critical levels by midday local time. Tragically, the operators of the hydroelectric station have confirmed that it is likely damaged beyond repair, now submerged beneath the water.
The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, located in the city of Nova Kakhovka within Ukraine's Kherson region, currently under Russian occupation, holds significant importance.
Constructed during the Soviet era, it is one of six dams situated along the Dnieper River, stretching from the northern reaches of the country to the southern coast. This colossal dam, often referred to as the "Kakhovka Sea" by locals due to its immense size, holds an enormous volume of water, equivalent to the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah, according to Reuters.
Footage from various media outlets, including the BBC, showcases the colossal breach in the dam, with torrents of water gushing through and flooding downstream towards Kherson.
While the precise timing of the initial damage remains unclear, satellite images analyzed by the BBC suggest that the condition of the dam had been deteriorating over several days. The road spanning the dam appeared damaged as early as June 2nd, although changes in the water flow were not evident until June 6th, when the wall breach and the subsequent collapse of nearby structures became apparent in video footage. The relationship between the road damage and the breach on June 6th is currently unconfirmed.
The extent of the downstream flooding remains uncertain, but concerns are mounting that it could have devastating consequences for settlements within the critical zone, housing approximately 16,000 people. Images from Nova Kakhova depict buildings engulfed by floodwaters.
Residents in low-lying areas of Kherson, located less than 70 Km downstream, have received urgent evacuation warnings, urging them to seek refuge at the higher ground as quickly as possible.
BBC quoting Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson region, reported on Ukrainian TV this morning that eight villages have already been completely or significantly flooded, with more anticipated to suffer the same fate.
Compounding the disaster, President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that approximately 150 tonnes of industrial lubricant have contaminated the river, with an additional 300 tonnes at risk of leakage.
The Kakhovka Dam holds immense significance, serving multiple purposes. It maintains a massive reservoir that supplies water to numerous communities upstream, making it difficult for thousands of residents to depend on the dam waters.
The dam also provides cooling water to the nuclear power station at Zaporizhzhia, around 140 kilometres upstream, which is under Russian control and relies on the reservoir.
Media reported that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said there was no immediate nuclear safety risk but it was monitoring the situation. It later said in a statement that if the dam did fall below 12.7m, the lowest level at which water can still be pumped upstream to Zaporizhzhia, there were alternative water sources to keep the nuclear plant cool, including a large cooling pond next to the site.
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