You're reading: High peak of flooding in Ukraine may come in last 10 days of March

The highest peak of flooding in Ukraine may come in the last ten days of March, while in Kyiv there may be flooding from the middle until the end of April, according to forecasts made at a meeting headed by First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov in Kyiv on Mar. 1.

According to Vasyl Stashuk, the head of the state committee for water resources, the maximum volume of flooding in Kyiv "is expected in the volume of 28-33 cubic kilometers… and temperature measurments on the river bank give reason to forecast that the peak of flooding in the Dnipro near Kyiv will take place between April 10 and the end of April this year."

The first vice premier, in turn, said there was a need to consolidate all branches of power so as to take necessary measures by the mentioned period.

"The peak of highest danger may start from the last ten days of March, but this doesn’t mean that we should wait until then – we have to work in order to minimize those problems which we may face," Turchynov said.

At the same time, according to Turchynov, two weeks were assigned to conduct relevant checks on preparations for flooding in Ukraine "at the Housing and Communal Services Ministry, the Emergencies Ministry, the state committee for water resources, as well as the agencies of local government and populated areas."

Emergencies Minister Volodymyr Shandra, in turn, said that a total of 77 populated areas were flooded in Ukraine as of March 1.

According to him, the required measures have been conducted in the area of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant so as to prevent radionuclides from getting into the water.