After a major dam burst in southern Ukraine, causing extensive flooding and a humanitarian crisis, thousands of people are fleeing the affected areas.

The Dnipro River, which serves as a boundary between Russian and Ukrainian-controlled territories, is still carrying a powerful surge of water, the BBC reported.

According to officials, around 30 towns and villages along the river have been inundated, with the main city of Kherson experiencing the submersion of nearly 2,000 homes.

Ukraine and Russia have exchanged accusations, each blaming the other for sabotaging the Kakhovka dam. However, the BBC has not been able to independently verify these claims from either side.

In the early hours of Tuesday, the dam in the Russian-controlled region of Nova Kakhovka was breached, leading to widespread evacuations as water levels rapidly rose downstream.

A woman who arrived in Kherson on a rescue boat from the Russian-occupied eastern side of the river described the swift escalation of the situation after receiving news of the disaster early that Tuesday.

Written by staff