ROSTOV-ON-DON. June 16 (Interfax) - The number of people in the Kherson region killed by flooding of riverside areas following the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydropower Plant has increased to 19, regional governor Andrei Alekseyenko said.
"The number of deaths has risen to 19. As of 6 p.m., 1,092 people have received 10,000 [ruble] payouts," he said on Telegram on Friday.
Eighteen deaths were previously reported.
The vaccination of people at temporary accommodation centers is nearly complete. In total, 1,391 have been vaccinated against dangerous infectious diseases, Alekseyenko said. In addition, more than 2,000 animals have been vaccinated and the remains of over 300 dead animals have been collected and disposed of, he said. Collection and incineration sites and cemeteries are being decontaminated.
Flood response efforts are taking place amid ongoing shelling, Alekseyenko said.
"The working teams came under 11 artillery strikes today alone. They are being specifically targeted in a bid to paralyze all work on restoration and to help people. In riverside villages, the workers are being fired on by Ukrainian snipers. It is only by a miracle that no one has been hurt yet," he said.
Valves and other elements of the Kakhovka HPP's surface infrastructure were destroyed in the early hours of June 6, causing an uncontrolled discharge of the Dnieper's water downstream from the Kakhovka reservoir in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions.
Moscow blamed Ukraine for the accident, and launched an inquiry into an act of terrorism.
Water levels in riverside villages rose as high as 12 meters. Almost 8,000 people were evacuated from three city districts - Novaya Kakhovka, Alyoshki and Golaya Pristan. Emergency restrictions are in place.