Odessa Faces Drone Attack and Severe Flooding; Recovery Underway

Explosions were heard in Odesa during an air raid on the night of October 5. The Odesa Regional Military Administration said that there were no damages in the city from the drone attack.

“The air defense forces successfully destroyed all targets aimed at the region. Despite the loud night and falling debris, there was no damage and no casualties”

Storm in Odesa: Operational Actions and Consequences

Since September 30, an operational headquarters for eliminating the consequences of the storm has been established in Odesa. Almost 3,000 people and more than 750 units of specialized equipment are involved.

“As of today, there are no floods, the sewer system is coping, there is no precipitation. Work to eliminate the consequences and provide assistance to those affected is being completed”

According to the OVA, more than 286 private houses and 620 high-rise buildings were affected by the disaster. More than 400 people received assistance; psychological support was provided to more than 500 victims, including 35 children. The storm also affected infrastructure: about 1,000 square meters of asphalt and over 1,000 square meters of sidewalks were damaged. Recovery works are ongoing.

On September 30, in Odesa nearly two months’ worth of rainfall fell. The Hydrometeorological Center of the Black Sea and the Azov Sea declared the third (red) level of danger. Meteorologist Olena Tarnavska said that in a day 94 mm of precipitation fell, of which 73 mm occurred in the second half of the day. This is the second-highest figure in history after the record of September 20, 2016 (113 mm).

As a result of the tragedy, ten people died, including an entire family of five. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky tasked Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kulibi to conduct a full review of the city’s actions, including the circumstances that could have led to such consequences. According to rescuers, more than 380 people were saved during the downpour; search operations have been completed, and emergency-recovery measures are ongoing.

In summary, the city continues to operate in crisis mode: in response to the overnight drone attack and the storm’s aftermath, it is necessary to ensure the safety of residents, restore the damaged infrastructure, and support those affected.