Swimming, fishing banned in Kherson Oblast due to Kakhovka HPP dam blast

Swimming and fishing have been prohibited in Ukraine’s Kherson Oblast due to the consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP).

“The concentration of harmful substances in water samples is ten times higher than the permissible norm. At a meeting of the headquarters for dealing with the aftermath of the man-made emergency, I ordered [local authorities] to ban swimming in water bodies, as well as to prohibit the fishing and sale of fish in the oblast.

Wells and open water bodies in flooded areas may contain chemicals and infectious disease pathogens from cemeteries, latrines, and landfills. Do not forget that at the bottom of the Kakhovka HPP destroyed by the Russians, there could be many hazardous substances. So cook your food and drink only bottled or imported water,” Kherson Oblast Military Administration Head Oleksandr Prokudin said, Ukrainska Pravda reports. 

Prokudin also said that thunderstorms, hail in some places, and squall winds of 15-20 m/s are expected in Oblast on June 11, so volunteers will not be allowed to perform any rescue operations.

At the same time, the Kherson City Military Administration reports that Roman Mrochko, the head of this administration, signed an order that bans swimming, watering animals, taking water probes, catching fish in the water area of the Dnipro and other water bodies, places of flooding of settlements of the Kherson urban territorial unit.

Mrochko has also said that the water level in Kherson decreased by more than 1 m. He also called on residents of the Ostriv neighbourhood to evacuate.