At least 30 people, including 6 children, perished after heavy rain flooded western Ukraine, namely Lviv, Zakarpattya, Ternopil and Chernivtsi oblasts.
The flood hit
40,601 homes
360 vehicular bridges
561 pedestrian bridges
680.61 km (423 miles) of roads
33,882 ha (83,724 acres) of agricultural land
President Yushchenko: The disaster we’ve encountered is the number one issue in Ukraine today.
Premier Tymoshenko: We will fully compensate you for all the loss. We are now convening, here, in Ivano-Frankivsk oblast, a meeting of the government. We are putting together all the money that is now held in the emergency fund and is held in other accounts that are on hand.
Sources:
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2008/7/28/79237.htm
http://censor.net.ua/go/offer/ResourceID/90910.html
Update
Novy Kanal has three video reports:
Tabloid has pictures of helicopter mom Tymoshenko flying over the flooded areas.
The death toll has risen to 30. More video reports from Novy Kanal:
Videos uploaded from:
http://video.novy.tv/reporter/reporter_2008_07_25-01.htm
http://video.novy.tv/reporter/reporter_2008_07_28-01.htm
http://video.novy.tv/reporter/reporter_2008_07_28-02.htm
http://video.novy.tv/reporter/reporter_2008_07_29-01.htm
http://video.novy.tv/reporter/reporter_2008_07_29-03.htm
http://video.novy.tv/reporter/reporter_2008_07_29-04.htm
3 comments:
It is horrible to see innocent people drown. Could increase in floods be results of Global Warming?
Yes, it is.
I don't know about global warming, but I do know about the barbaric logging industry in the Carpathians, which leads to erosion. Plus, we have bad local government and worn-out infrastructure.
1) Don't people have insurance?
2) One thing standouts to me in one of the videos - there is a guy who showed up to help people, a neighbor helping neighbors, so to speak, who was not one of the residents. He said, loosely translated, that he was not looking for any money for helping, and besides, having too much money is not always so good. That guy is a standout - a true hero, along with all the other people who are helping.
3) In one of the videos, Lutsenko points out, matter-of-factly, that many of the bridges in the area washed out because when they were being constructed, shortcuts were taken - to cut costs. No doubt, the difference wound up in some government officials' pockets. It's not a new technique.
Corruption is killing the country - and here's yet another example.
But at least now Ukraine has government officials (Lutsenko) who are able to talk about the problem, and address it openly.
4) This is truly a disastrous flood. To their credit, the people seem to be very hardy and self-reliant, as tough as this is.
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