ROSTOV-ON-DON. June 6 (Interfax) - The evacuation of residents from the houses flooded following the destruction of gate valves at the Kakhovka Hydropower Plant (HPP) in the Kherson region has begun, Novaya Kakhovka head Vladimir Leontyev told reporters.
"Water levels are continuing to rise. The situation is growing more difficult. We are now evacuating people from all inundated houses," Leontyev said.
People are being evacuated by bus, he said.
"According to our forecasts, water will drop to its usual levels within 72 hours. But we need to get through these 72 hours," he said.
The shelling of Novaya Kakhovka is continuing, he said. The shore line has been hit many times. The authorities have temporarily cut off power supply to populated localities on the riverbanks for safety reasons.
As reported, the Kakhovka HPP's gate valves and other surface elements were destroyed as a result of overnight strikes delivered by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, causing water at the Kakhovka reservoir to be released uncontrollably downstream. Water levels are now rising.