ES spokesperson Maryna Averina said in a broadcast on the We-Ukraine channel that in some areas, “the water was chest-deep,” flooding buses, private homes, and office buildings where people had to be rescued.
“We evacuated people from seven buses, including one international bus,” Averina said. “The big problem was that some people refused to leave their cars even as the water rose and nearly covered them. Only when panic set in did they call for help.”
Rescue operations concluded in Odesa on Oct. 2, with emergency crews now focused on recovery efforts.
According to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, 10 people were killed, and more than 380 were rescued. He said there were no more missing persons and all emergency calls from residents had been processed.
The storm dumped nearly one and a half months’ worth of rain on the city in a single day, flooding homes, basements, and roads. More than 23,700 households were left without electricity.
Among the victims was a family of five, including an eight-year-old girl. Local officials declared Oct. 2 a day of mourning for the city and region.
Averina told Suspilne media that the family had been living in a basement apartment. “They were hit by a wave and couldn’t escape,” she said.