WHAT IS THE HUMAN IMPACT?
With water levels surging higher, many thousands of people are likely to be affected. Evacuations of civilians began on both sides of the front line.
Maxar said that satellite images of more than 2,500 square km between Nova Kakhovka and the Dniprovska Gulf southwest of Kherson city on the Black Sea, showed numerous towns and villages flooded.
Ukrainian officials estimated about 42,000 people were at risk from the flooding, which is expected to peak on Wednesday, including some 25,000 in Russia-held parts. About 80 communities were threatened by flooding.
CRIMEA
The destruction of the dam risks lowering the water level of the Soviet-era North Crimean Canal, which has traditionally supplied Crimea with 85 per cent of its water needs.
Most of that water is used for agriculture, some for the Black Sea peninsula’s industries, and around one-fifth for drinking water and other public needs.
NUCLEAR PLANT
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest, gets its cooling water from the reservoir. It is located on the southern side, now under Russian control.
“Our current assessment is that there is no immediate risk to the safety of the plant,” International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said.
He said it was essential that a cooling pond be left intact as it supplied enough water for the cooling of the shut-down reactors.
“Nothing must be done to potentially undermine its integrity,” Grossi said.
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