Evacuations of residents living in areas affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam continued on Thursday.
after destruction of the Kakhovka dam, the water level was low, to the point of raising many questions. However, despite a sill at 12.7 meters, the water from the dam continues to cool the Zaporijjia power station, declared, Thursday, June 8 in the evening, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Here’s what to remember from the day.
Dam water continues to cool Zaporizhia nuclear power plant
Finally, the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine is indeed continuing to pump water from the Kakhovka dam to cool the fuel and avoid an accident, the International Atomic Energy Agency has said. (IAEA). Upon examination, it turned out that the pumping operation “should be able to continue even if the level fell below the threshold of 12.7 meters”previously deemed critical, explained the UN body in a press release, which now sets the limit at “11 meters, or even lower”. “In these difficult circumstances, this gives us a little more time before possibly moving to other sources of supply”underlined the head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, expected on the scene next week.
This reassuring message was communicated after the Ukrainian operator of the dam, Ukrhydroenergo, had estimated earlier in the evening that once the threshold of 12.7 meters had been passed, the water no longer allowed to ensure the cooling of the reactors.
In addition, once the dam can no longer be used, the power plant may have recourse to “a large retention basin located at proximity“, clarified Rafael Grossi. But also “to smaller reserves and on-site wells that can provide cooling water for several months”he added. “It is vital that this basin remains intact”he repeated.
WHO warns of cholera risk
Although no cases have been identified, the World Health Organization has reinforced the “epidemiological surveillance of water-borne diseases”. Especially since the bacillus Vibrio cholerae, causing the fatal disease, has been detected in “samples taken from the environment”. “So we could start detecting cases at any time.”alerted Teresa Zakaria, head of emergency operations at the World Health Organization. “We are working closely with the Ukrainian Ministry of Health to ensure that mechanisms are in place to allow the import of vaccines as soon as they are available. required”she clarified.
Six dead on both sides of the Dnipro
The Ukrainian and Russian occupation authorities recorded six deaths after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. An area of more than 600 km2 was flooded, according to the governor of the Kherson region, both on the right bank of the river controlled by the Ukrainians and on the left bank occupied by the Russians.
Evacuations continue
Buses and trains take turns to move the affected populations. According to Ukrainian emergency services, 1,995 people were evacuated, including 103 children. Many others fled on their own. On the Russian side, 4,500 people “have already been evacuatedaccording to the occupation authorities on Thursday.
Ukraine and allies condemn ‘attacks’ on evacuations
Ukraine and its allies, including the United States, France and Japan, have condemned the “attacks” against relief operations in Kherson. They also called on Russia to allow access “without hindrance” aid after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, Ukrainian UN ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told reporters. The latter was then surrounded by his counterparts from several members of the Security Council (United States, France, United Kingdom, Japan, Malta, Albania) and member states of the European Union.
“We also call on the Russian Federation to allow full, safe and unimpeded access to the affected areas on the left bank of the Dnieper River which is under the control of its army, so that humanitarian actors, in particular the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross can help the inhabitants”, he added.