Nine people, including a family of five, have died after severe flash flooding struck the Ukrainian city of Odesa. The deluge, which dumped almost two months' worth of rain in just seven hours, caused widespread damage and power outages across the region.
The family was swept away from their ground-floor flat by floodwaters, according to emergency services. Three women also died while walking along a flood-hit road. Over 500 rescue workers saved 362 people, with at least one person still missing.
Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov said on Telegram: 'In just seven hours, almost two months' worth of rain fell in Odesa. No stormwater drainage system can withstand such a load.' Around 42,000 people in 32 villages and towns remain without power.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed condolences and ordered a full review of the disaster. 'A horrific situation in Odesa – nine people have died as a result of the natural disaster, including a child,' he wrote. He instructed Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba to report on the circumstances by Friday.
The flooding comes as Ukraine continues to face Russian attacks. In Kharkiv, a Russian guided aerial bomb attack injured six people and sparked fires at a market and residential buildings, officials said.
