Gradual drawdown observed in Ukraine's flood-hit western regions

As of 7:30 a.m., a gradual drawdown has been observed in the Dnieper, Prut and Seret basins, on the rivers of Transcarpathia and in the Dniester in the Vinnytsia region, the emergency ministry press service informed.

As a result of a casualty (heavy rains that caused a sharp water rise in the rivers of the Carpathian basin) in six regions (Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Vinnytsia, Chernivtsi, Transcarpathian and Ternopil regions) 655 inhabited localities remain underflooded (less by 112 inhabited localities) and 38,215 dwelling houses (less by 6,490 houses), as well as 57,383 ha of agricultural lands.

In the Ivano-Frankivsk region that suffered most from the natural disaster, 398 inhabited localities remained underflooded, 24,251 dwelling houses and 22,556 ha of agricultural lands. As many as 8,550 persons and 1,998 units of machinery and equipment have been attracted to flood relief operations.

The emergency ministry units deliver foodstuffs, drinking water and medicaments, and evacuate victims from the flooded zone to patient care institutions, at the same time amphibian vehicles have been attracted, as well as helicopters, on which flying around accident regions and examination of gas pipelines, electric mains, bridges, highways and railways has been carried.

In fulfilment of the President's decree of July 27, 2008, No. 678/2008 "On Urgent Measures for Natural Disaster Relief Operations of July 23-27, 2008", "a register of the flood-hit inhabited localities in the casualty zone has been made, as well as a register of the affected population".

A commission on flood relief operations takes all measures for normalization of the situation in the region. Mitigation of the emergency situation consequences is under control.