No threat of flooding in Crimea due to Kakhovka HPP incident, but water canal may grow shallow - Crimea head

ROSTOV-ON-DON. June 6 (Interfax) - Water levels at the North Crimean Canal may start to fall as a result of the destruction of gate valves at the Kakhovka Hydropower Plant (HPP) in the Kherson region, but there is no threat of flooding in Crimea, head of Crimea Sergei Aksyonov said.

"As regards the situation related to the blowing up of the Kakhovka HPP, there is no threat of flooding in Crimea. However, there is a risk of the North Crimean Canal becoming shallow," Aksyonov said on his Telegram channel on Tuesday.

There are currently some 40 million cubic meters of water in the canal and its reservoirs are full, he said.

"The water reservoirs which were previously 15%-20% full are now about 80% full. The available amount of drinking water is more than enough. Efforts are in progress to minimize water losses in the canal. The dynamics and possible risks will become clear in the coming days," Aksyonov said.

Head of the Crimean State Committee on Water and Melioration Vladislav Maslyanik said, for his part, that the water needs of the population and companies in Crimea are now being 100% covered. There is a sufficient amount of water at reservoirs on the peninsula.

"The North Crimean Canal on the territory of the Republic of Crimea is functioning as usual. Off-stream reservoirs have 60.3 million cubic meters of water and are 65% full, while natural reservoirs have 221.5 million cubic meters of water and are 87% full. In total, the reservoirs have 281.8 million cubic meters of water," the committee's press service quoted Maslyanik as saying.

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. Partial evacuation is being conducted from districts on the riverbanks.