Heavy rain and flooding has affected Ukraine and Russian annexed Crimea over the last few days. Authorities said parts of the city of Kerch in Crimea were under 1.6 metres of water on 17 June 2021.
The Crimea Directorate of Russian Emergencies Ministry (EMERCOM) reports that 1,700 people have been affected by the flooding in Crimea, mostly in the city of Kerch and surrounding areas of Lenins’kyi district. Minor flooding was also reported in Kirovske and Sovietskyi districts.
Power and water supply was interrupted for thousands of people in Kerch and Lenins’kyi district. The heavy rainfall and overflowing Melek-Chesme river flooded wide areas of the city of Kerch, including the City Hospital.
Rescue teams have evacuated 1,387 people from flooded homes. As of 18 June 155 people were staying in 4 temporary shelters, most of them in Kerch.
Over 80 mm of rain fell in Kerch in 24 hours to 17 June. WMO figures show as much as 191 mm of rain fell in the Ai-Petri, a peak in the Crimean Mountains, Yalta municipality, in 24 hours to 18 June. Further rainfall (more than 30mm), strong winds and thunderstorms are forecast for the region.
Meanwhile State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) reported flooding in Kharkiv and Kirovohrad regions. SES said 26 homes were flooded in Kupyansk district, Kharkiv region, as a result of heavy rainfall on 16 June, 2021. On the same day around 11 roads and a house were flooded in the city of Alexandria, Kirovohrad region.
