Danube bursts its banks: Vilkovo town under water, without electricity

Water level in the Danube River near the town of Vilkovo, Kiliysky district, Odesa region rose to 165 cm above ground level because of strong north-easterly wind, the press service of the Odessa Regional State Administration informs.

As a result of waters rising, parts of non-residential territory of Vilkovo were flooded as the critical level of the Danube in the district is 155 cm, the report said.

In addition, strong wind caused damages to power supply systems - a third of buildings of the town remained without electricity.

Under the circumstances, rescue officers took the decision to evacuate 24 residents of Kiliysky district, living in a distance of 12-15 kilometers from Vilkovo by airboat "Mars-700".

Seven mobile electric power stations were sent to Vilkovo to provide operation of water intake station, hospital, school and kindergarten.

The emergency experts of Odesa region expect the worsening of situation in the flood zone, since breaking of the ice in the mouth of the Danube in Kiliysky district is about 90% of the area of the river. At the same time, strong winds and storm at sea prevents ice from passing downstream to the sea.

Conducting ice breaking operations in the Ukrainian part of the Danube River is impossible.