You're reading: Azarov orders to tackle water supply accident in Makiivka

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has ordered the Emergencies Ministry, the Construction Ministry, and the Ministry for Regional Development, Housing and Utilities to immediately eliminate the consequences of a water supply breakdown and the contamination of water with sewage in Makiivka, Donetsk region, the press service of the government reported on Friday.

"I know public utilities officials say that the elimination of the consequences will take some time since it is necessary to replace all the pipes. That’s true. We spoke about the terrible state of the water supply networks at a recent extended meeting of the government. Therefore, I demand that the ministry should focus its power and resources [on replacing] the pipes as soon as possible," the prime minister said.

Azarov said residents in the affected areas should be provided with drinking water immediately.

Dozens of people were poisoned after wastewater got into a drinking water pipeline in the village of Lenin outside Makiivka, Donetsk region, when a sewage pipe and a drinking water pipe broke simultaneously. According to the media, dozens of people were poisoned, and two of them were hospitalized.