The Election Commission has resolved on Friday to investigate whether Move Forward Party PM candidate Pita Limjaroenrat knowingly violate election laws because he knew he was holding ITV media shares or not.
The EC voted unanimously with 6 votes earlier to reject three petitions to investigate whether Pita has prohibited qualifications by the constitution in applying for election despite holding 42,000 shares of ITV, due to statute time limitations.
Move Forward Party PM candidate Pita Limjaroenrat visited Phuket on June 9, 2023.
However, the EC accepted the matter for consideration because it has enough information to investigate further under Articles 42 (3) and 151 of the election laws if Pita already knew that he had no right to run for election due to prohibited qualifications but still did it.
If found guilty, Pita would be disqualified and could face a prison sentence from 1 to 10 years, a fine of 20,000-200,000 baht and revoked election rights for 20 years.
The Move Forward Party won the May 14 election on a progressive agenda that resonated with a public weary of nine years of military-steered rule under PM Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha, who led the 2014 coup as army chief.
Pita Limjaroenrat, center, (white shirt) leader of Move Forward Party, waves to his supporters, in Bangkok, Monday, May 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
Since then, Pita has been the target of the petitioners, suffering the same fate as Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. Thanathorn was accused by the EC of possessing shares in the media company V-Luck Media when he registered as a candidate for the House of Representatives in 2019.
In the end, the Constitutional Court has ruled to disqualify Thanathorn as an MP until the party dissolved in 2020, even though V-Luck Media had not operated since 2018.
A file photo of Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit campaigning in March 2019.
Pita said with a smile on Friday that his situation was similar to Thanathorn’s. But it probably won’t end the way Thanathorn was treated. He believed that society had learned enough from history. A potential prime minister must be thoroughly investigated both before and after taking office. The system should work with the Prime Minister.
Members of the public photograph an art installation called "Double Ducks" by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman at Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, Friday, June 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
HONG KONG (AP) — Two giant inflatable ducks made a splash in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbor on Friday, marking the return of a pop-art project that sparked a frenzy in the city a decade ago.
The two 18-meter-tall yellow ducks by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman resemble the bath toys many played with in their childhood. Shortly after their launch, dozens of residents and tourists flocked to the promenade near the government headquarters in Admiralty to snap photos of the ducks.
People take picture of an art installation called “Double Ducks” by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman at Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, Friday, June 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Hofman said he hopes the art exhibition brings joy to the city and connects people as they make memories together.
“Double duck, double luck,” he said. “In a world where we suffered from a pandemic, wars and political situations, I think it is the right moment to bring back the double luck.”
The inflatable ducks will stay in Hong Kong for about two weeks.
An art installation called “Double Ducks” by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman is seen at Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, Friday, June 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Many Hong Kongers at the promenade recalled the happiness his work brought to the shopping district of Tsim Sha Tsui in 2013. Some were excited to see a pair of ducks on Friday instead of just one duck like the earlier exhibition.
Among the visitors was artist Laurence Lai, who brought paint brushes to make watercolors of the ducks. Lai said the city was full of negative vibes in recent years during the COVID-19 pandemic and that it’s time for the city to move on.
“With life returning to normal, the ducks can bring back some positivity,” the 50-year-old said.
Members of the public photograph an art installation called “Double Ducks” by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman at Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, Friday, June 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Shenzhen resident Eva Yang and her young daughters were also happy to see the ducks, saying they made their sightseeing in Hong Kong more memorable.
“They’re spectacular,” Yang said.
In 2013, residents and tourists packed streets near the Tsim Sha Tsui pier to catch a glimpse of Hofman’s duck.
That duck’s stint in Hong Kong unintentionally turned political on the social media platform Weibo around the anniversary of Beijing’s Tiananmen crackdown in 1989. Chinese censors blocked searches for the term “big yellow duck” after netizens shared an image in which the tanks in the iconic ” Tank man” image were replaced with a line of oversized giant rubber ducks.
Hofman’s rubber ducks have been on a world tour since 2007.
The Future of Thai Cannabis Network, together with the Cannabis for Medical Use Network held a press conference on June 9 as the Thai Cannabis Day.
Cannabis advocates in Thailand organized a political movement on Thailand Cannabis Day, June 9, to advocate for the declassification of cannabis as a Class 5 narcotic and to allow home cultivation without a licence for medicinal purposes, as decided by the Food and Drug Administration on June 9, 2022.
The status of cannabis takes a turn after the general election when the 8 political parties forming a coalition government, led by the Move Forward party, sign an MOU expressing their mutual agreement to reintroduce cannabis as a controlled narcotic.
The Cannabis Association for the People, led by Ratthapol Saenrak, coordinator and committee, delivered a letter to the Move Forward party expressing their willingness to engage with party representatives in discussions on cannabis policy implementation.
The Cannabis Association for the People, led by Ratthapol Saenrak, coordinator and committee, handed a letter to the Move Forward party.
Ratthapol explained that the association has been advocating and actively campaigning for cannabis for about 10 years. The main position of the association is to oppose the reclassification of cannabis as a narcotic without proper support and regulation.
They believe that such a move could have far-reaching negative consequences for society beyond what many parties can imagine. Furthermore, it could lead to potential legal penalties, including imprisonment, for cannabis users and people involved in the industry.
The event of Thai Cannabis Day organised by the Future of Thai Cannabis Network
The association intends to present two demands: 1. There must be clear and transparent discussions and negotiations on how to proceed with the issue. 2. There may be a need to propose legislation that clearly differentiates between medical use and recreational use, implementing regulations that align with international standards.
Vorapob Wiriyaroj, a Move Forward Party MP, said that the issue of cannabis needs to be improved in two dimensions. There is a need to achieve a balance in terms of protecting children and young people while ensuring that those who use cannabis legally and responsibly can continue their activities.
On the same day, Prasitchai Nhunuan, the head of the Future of Thai Cannabis Network, together with the Cannabis for Medical Use Network, filed a motion with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Government Complaints Centre reiterating their intention not to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic.
They stated that from now on they will mobilize nationwide to collect the names of citizens who support this cause and hand them over to the new Minister of Public Health.
GULF, led by Mr. Boonchai Thirati, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, and Ms. Yupapin Wangviwat, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, welcomes shareholders at Uthai Power Plant in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya.
Gulf Energy Development Plc. (GULF) invites shareholders to visit the company’s operation at the Uthai Power Plant in Uthai district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. The power plant has the total installed capacity of 1,600 MW and is one of the country’s Independent Power Producers (IPP). The shareholders also had the opportunity to sightsee the Thaicom Teleport & DTH Center in Lat Lum Kaeo, Pathum Thani.
The engagement allows shareholders to gain an in-depth perspective into of Gulf Group’s businesses, from power generation to the satellite technologies. It also enhances recognition of the company’s recent ventures, equips them with sufficient information to make sound investment decisions, and bolsters their collective ownership of the business.
The excursion at Uthai Power Plant was led by Mr. Boonchai Thirati, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, and Ms. Yupapin Wangviwat, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, who presented an overview of the business and an updated progress on its current projects as well as its future undertakings in the pipeline. Following the presentation, the shareholders were guided through a tour of the power plant led by a team of experienced engineers who gave expert insights into the process of power generation and the technological side of the energy industry.
Ms. Yupapin Wangviwat, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, GULF, stated, “The decision to invite shareholders to visit the power plant has elicited positive responses. Now possessing a deeper understanding of our businesses, the shareholders express confidence in the company’s commitment in driving growth and generating steady returns to its shareholders in the long run.
GULF also puts emphasis on energy transition as the company strives to expand its far-reaching renewable energy portfolio in Thailand, the Southeast Asian region, and the overseas. This decarbonization strategy is in line with the global objective of achieving carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions, thus enhancing value not only for its shareholders, but for all its stakeholders.”
During the excursion at Thaicom Teleport & DTH Center, operated by Thaicom Public Company Limited (THCOM), Mr. Sakon Kittivatcharapong, Advisor to CEO for satellite engineering, provided a snapshot of the satellite industry, intriguing new satellite technologies, and incorporation of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions in THCOM’s recent endeavors.
Meanwhile, Mr. Anuwat Sanguansappayakorn, Chief Financial Officer, shared financial highlights and gave a glimpse into the new space technology anticipated to contribute to Gulf group’s future revenue streams. Following the presentation, a team of satellite engineers conducted a tour through the satellite exhibition, the master control room, and the satellite control room. This allowed visitors to gain first-hand knowledge of how Thaicom Teleport & DTH Center operates and raised overall awareness and familiarity with space science.
THCOM is one of the leading satellite operators in Asia, with GULF holding a 41.1% equity stake in the company. Both GULF and THCOM will leverage synergies to steer potential collaborative investments in digital infrastructure, opening up avenues for business opportunities in the space economy and other pertinent sectors in the future. This strategic positioning by GULF and THCOM is highly anticipated to help lay the groundwork for Thailand’s continued technological growth and economic development.
For information on the shareholders activities, including the next scheduled site visit, please visit the company’s investor relations website at https://investor.gulf.co.th/en/home.
Mayon Volcano spews white smoke as seen from Daraga, Albay province, central Philippines on Thursday June 8, 2023. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised Thursday the status of Mayon Volcano in Albay to Alert Level 3 due to "increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption." (AP Photo/John Michael Magdasoc)
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine troops, police and rescue workers began forcibly evacuating residents near Mayon Volcano on Friday as its increasing unrest indicated a violent eruption of one of the country’s most active volcanoes is possible within weeks or days.
The area within a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) radius of Mayon’s crater is supposed to be off-limits due to possible volcanic emissions, lava flows, rockfalls and other hazards. But many poor villagers have built houses and tended farms in Mayon’s danger zone over the years.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said an evacuation of residents from the permanent danger zone was underway and promised to provide aid to the displaced until the crisis ended.
“Right now, what we are doing is preparing and moving people away from the area so that, should the time come, I hope it doesn’t happen…we’re ready,” Marcos told reporters. “But unfortunately science tells us that may happen because the lid or the cap on top of the lava is slowly rising.”
Authorities had raised the alert level for the volcano in northeastern Albay province Thursday after superheated streams of gas, debris and rocks cascaded down its upper slope, indicating activity below the surface that could precede a hazardous eruption.
Conditions have advanced a little bit more Friday, although lava hasn’t started to flow, Marcos said.
The numbers of residents being evacuated weren’t immediately available.
A tourist draw for its picturesque conical shape, 2,462-meter (8,077-feet) Mayon last erupted violently in 2018, displacing tens of thousands of villagers.
Government volcano experts raised the alert level around Mayon to the third of a five-step warning system Thursday after detecting an increasing number of rockfalls and at least two volcanic earthquakes in recent days.
Six brief volcanic gas and ash emissions streamed down the volcano’s southern gullies about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the crater Friday. Numerous rockfalls and thin ash and steam plumes that drifted south were also observed, the government volcanology institute said.
Mayon Volcano spews white smoke as seen from Daraga, Albay province, central Philippines on Thursday June 8, 2023. (AP Photo/John Michael Magdasoc)
Mayon is at “a relatively high level of unrest as magma is at the crater and hazardous eruption is possible within weeks or even days,” the institute said in its latest update Friday morning.
Mayon is one of the most restive of two dozen active volcanoes across the Philippines.
Officials also were closely monitoring Taal Volcano south of Manila and Mount Kanlaon on central Negros island due to renewed signs of restiveness.
A number of villages in three towns near Taal suspended classes Wednesday due to thick smog emanating from the volcano and residents were advised to limit outdoor activities and wear masks for protection.
The Philippines lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” the area around the ocean rim where tectonic plates meet that is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. A long-dormant volcano, Mount Pinatubo, blew its top north of Manila in 1991 in one of the biggest volcanic eruptions of the 20th century, killing hundreds of people.
One Bangkok Converges Sustainable Innovation, Embracing World Environment Day Practises “Reuse & Recycle”
One Bangkok, a fully integrated smart and sustainable district in the heart of Bangkok, emphasises its commitment to becoming an environmentally friendly and socially responsible project. This commitment aligns with the environmental preservation and impact reduction goals of the United Nations (UN) and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).
One Bangkok supports the “Reduce and Recycle” policy of World Environment Day by transforming waste and used materials into valuable resources that contribute to the well-being of people and economic development.
The United Nations has designated 5 June of every year as World Environment Day, aiming to raise worldwide awareness of the environmental crisis and for people to take action to protect our environment. As a private sector property development project, One Bangkok is determined to be the driving force for a sustainable future by committing to net-zero carbon goals and engaging with the community to shape a better future collaboratively.
This is reflected through the project’s three core development principles of people-centric, sustainability and smart-city living.
To set a new standard of environmentally sustainable development, One Bangkok aims to become the first project in Thailand to attain LEED for Neighborhood Development Platinum certification with a commitment to effective energy reduction, waste management and indoor air quality control.
Several buildings in the project are also being built to WELL Platinum standards to support the health and wellness of everyone. In line with its commitment to becoming an environmentally friendly and socially responsible project, One Bangkok will continue to implement sustainable waste management at scale and in accordance with circular economy principles throughout the development and operations phases of the district.
Sustainability has been a core development principle for One Bangkokfrom master plan design to development and operations phrases– with a focus on innovative solutions to establish an efficient resources management system that supports “Reuse and Recycle” practices such as
Reducing construction waste: Reusing and recycling more than 75% of the construction waste – such as recycling pile heads into precast concrete panels, which reduces the carbon emission of 5.94 tons, equivalent to oxygen produced by 540 trees. Another implemented innovative solution is recycling autoclaved lightweight concrete (ALC) blocks into Q-CON sound barriers for the underpass entrance.
Waste segregation – Recycle waste – Food waste: Implementation of technologies for efficient waste management, such as Food Waste Composters that transform food waste into fertiliser resulting in greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Another technology that will be installed is Dust Drum Compactor, which processes the waste into a denser form using a closed system allowing hygienic refuse storage and transportation. As a result, the waste reduction is up to 6,700 tons per year and reduces carbon emissions by 12,000 tons, equivalent to oxygen produced by 160,000 trees.
Wastewater management: Smart technology enables us to monitor water quality, reduce water consumption and recycle the wasted water by Wastewater Treatment Plant. The treated water will then be used for public purposes, including plant watering systems and flushing sanitary wares in common areas.
In addition, IoT technology has been implemented to provide real-time monitoring of waste management performance to optimise waste segregation and recycling efforts. Smart Bin Sensors will be installed to enhance the waste-tracking system with real-time fill-level information to reduce the overflow of garbage and unsanitary environments,
(Photo: One Bangkok)
Moreover, One Bangkok is designed to offer a public space (Public Realm) with 50 rai of the total project area allocated to open green pedestrian-friendly spaces, to promote walkability instead of car transportation hence reducing air pollution. Linear parks set back the edges of One Bangkok by 35 to 45 metres from the pavements of Rama IV and Wireless roads, providing an extensive greenspace and improving air quality.
With a commitment to being a part of reducing environmental impacts and promoting sustainable practices, One Bangkok strives to create quality public spaces and lead the way in sustainable real estate development.
This week’s recurring scandal in Thai society stems from photos posted on social media by “Captain Cat”, a well-known former beauty queen who is now a police officer. The post shows her parents decorating her outfit with stars (3 stars on each shoulder), a symbol of promotion in the Thai police.
Pol. Capt. Atitaya Benjapak has come under criticism for rising eight ranks in just four years, from lance corporal to police captain. This promotion came after she completed a course for externally recruited commissioned police officers.
Captain Cat posted and deleted these pictures.
On June 9, Captain Cat deleted the photos and apologized: “Regarding the posted photos of me being adorned with a new rank by my parents as a symbolic gesture to my police career, I had no intention of bragging about it or engaging in any activity that would affect the morale of my fellow police officers or anyone else involved. I sincerely apologise for my rash actions. Finally, I promise that now that I have the opportunity to work, I will commit to performing my duties to the best of my ability and with the utmost diligence.”
Captain Cat was once a member of the Royal Thai Army Band in 2019 and was Miss Thailand Chonburi 2023.
However, this scandal continues to be criticized and has prompted calls for reform of the promotion system within the police, as it has long been alleged that people who reach high positions often come from influential and wealthy families with prestigious backgrounds.
Captain Cat had transferred from the Royal Thai Army Band Department to the police. Her duties at the National Police Office include processing administrative documents and various ceremonial tasks.
Captain Cat had transferred from the Royal Thai Army Band Department to the police.
A Facebook page called “Phuen Tamruat” (Police friend) with over 33,000 followers has posted information revealing the rapid promotions of several police officers who have undergone the same training. It mentions that those who have undergone this training have a higher social status compared to others.
Rangsiman Rome, a member of the Move Forward party who initiated the investigation into this training program, explained that this course was originally intended for people with certain educational qualifications that they believed would improve the efficiency of the police organization.
However, upon investigation, it was found that those who participated in the programme came from influential families with well-known surnames, suggesting the use of connections. The party is currently in the process of conducting further investigations.
Worapoj Petchkoom and Manus Boonjumnong
Former professional boxers, Manus Boonjumnong and Worapoj Petchkoom, who won gold and silver medals in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, posted on their social media platforms that they brought fame to the country but were not considered for promotion as they should have been for the past 23 years.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Archayon Kraithong, the spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, clarified that Captain Cat’s case was in accordance with the Police Commission’s regulations that govern the promotion process. It states that people with a graduate degree can be promoted to the rank of police captain within 2 years.
The CCTV footage showed Angie, 22, crossing the border into Tachileik.
The disappearance of a Malaysian-Chinese woman, 22, named Angie Chong Sum Yee, underscores the horror of casino land in Myanmar.
It was reported that Angie was last seen on June 1, 2023 at Mae Sai border checkpoint 1 in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province, Thailand. This checkpoint connects Thailand with the Myanmar border town, Tachileik.
Angie Chong Sum Yee
According to the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women and the Tourism Police, 227 Thai women in Tachiliek province, a Special Administrative Region, were deceived. The majority of the victims were lied to about the work. They were promised to work as receptionists, waitresses or other service staff, but then they were forced into prostitution.
Inside Tachileik’s autonomous regions.
In Angie’s case, Thai authorities assumed that she disappeared in Tachileik. According to the investigation, Angie arrived at Chiang Mai Airport on May 29, 2023. There was a man who drove her to Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai. Angie was then picked up by a woman at a hotel who drove her across the border into Myanmar. The police questioned the driver and the woman and assumed that they were simply the drivers Angie had hired.
On June 6, Angie’s mother arrived with her son in Chiang Mai province to meet with the Thai tourist police in the hope of finding her daughter. She was very concerned about Angie’s fate. The mother explained that her daughter does not work in the casino. She already earns a good income as a beautician.
The mother of Angie has come to Chiang Mai to find her daughter.
On June 7, Pavena Hongsakul, the president of the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women, met with Angie’s mother. She informed the mother that she had met with the governor of Tachileik and that he would be happy to help with Angie’s repatriation as a special case.
Pavena told reporters that she, the tourism police and other authorities involved have met with the governor of Tachiliek to rescue another 27 Thai women who were lured into prostitution in Pok and Laogai towns. Both towns are under special administration.
Miss Pavena had met with the governor of tachileik.
She mentioned that she sympathizes with Thai women working in Myanmar as most of them live in poverty. They most likely believe in the lie or are ready to do so at some point. Pavena warned Thai women not to believe the lie of working in Myanmar to get a salary of one hundred thousand baht a month, because it will not be as rosy as they think. They will be forced into prostitution, drugs and alcohol. They will be physically hurt if they do not obey the order.
Pavena advised Angle’s mother to report the case to the Mae Sai police, as the tourism police have no authority to arrest.
He was very confused by the fact that his own building, which he hadn’t been to in 5 years, had turned into an Indian bar.
Suppanut Chinnawat, 30, reported to police at the Mueang Pattaya police station on June 7, 2023, that a group of Indian nationals had intruded on his commercial property. Police immediately sent investigators to the scene.
The building is located at No. 247/8-9 on Pattaya 3rd Road, which is the road leading to Bali Hier Pier. There is a sign on the glass wall that says “Rockstars Indian Dance Club” while the door was locked.
Suppanut Chinnawat showed the papers that insists he owns the building.
Police investigated the scene and found an additional door at the rear of the building. It was found that the burglars had converted the ground floor into a beer bar, while the second to fourth floors were converted into daily or monthly rental rooms. Some rooms were occupied while others were ransacked, police reported.
A brief questioning of a person at the scene reveals that the manager of the building is an Indian. The person who was present when the police investigated the building said he did not know who owned the building as he was an employee. He said the manager was not there as he had returned to India.
First, the building owner presented all the proofs of ownership to the Indian clerk. The owner stated that he would lock all the doors to prevent anyone from entering the building. However, he would allow those living in the building to continue living there until he spoke to the Indian caretaker, who claimed to be the building owner and litigate the case.
“I must know who is behind this Indian person. How dare they pretend to be the owners of the building and make such a business out of it? Only when all the compensation is on the table will I be ready to negotiate,” said the building owner.
Indian investors flocked to Pattaya
Earlier, Prachachat Business reported that Indian investors flocked to Pattaya when Thailand reopened the country since 2021. These investments span entertainment properties, hotels and restaurants, with spending ranging from 10 to 100 million baht.
The sites were concentrated around Walking Street to Pattaya 3rd Road. It is reported that these sites were to serve the Indian tourists who visit Thailand about 120,000 to 150,000 every month.
Damrongkiat Pinijkarn, director of Hollywood Pattaya and secretary of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, said Indian investors became interested in Pattaya not long before COVID-19. The interest then waned because of the pandemic. When things improved, Indian investors were among the first to return because they saw the opportunities. Indian tourists were also among the first tourists to return to Pattaya.
Similarly, Jugkarut Ruangratanakorn, managing director of Rattanakorn Asset Co, Ltd, said that currently there are several Indian investors investing in entertainment properties and restaurants. He said that since July 2022, when the government opened the country to foreigners, new Indian investors have been coming into the country.
Volunteers evacuate dogs and goats from the flooded city in Kherson, Ukraine, Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Floodwaters from a collapsed dam kept rising in southern Ukraine on Wednesday, forcing hundreds of people to flee their homes in a major emergency operation that brought a dramatic new dimension to the war with Russia, now in its 16th month. (AP Photo/Libkos)
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The fallout from the breach of a dam in southern Ukraine is wreaking havoc on lives, livelihoods and the environment amid the war.
When the Kakhovka dam ruptured on Tuesday, it sent a torrent of water from Ukraine’s largest reservoir into cities, towns and lowlands downstream on the Dnieper River, where fighting is raging.
It’s not clear what caused the breach in the dam, which had already been damaged in the war.
Ukraine’s government, which controls the river’s western bank and the city of Kherson, accused Moscow’s forces of blowing up the facility. Russia, which controls the eastern bank for about the last 300 kilometers (about 185 miles) before the river reaches the Black Sea, blames military strikes ordered by Kyiv.
Operational since the mid-1950s under the Soviet Union, the dam and its associated hydroelectric power station sit about 70 kilometers (44 miles) east of Kherson, and supply electricity, irrigation and drinking water to a wide swath of southern Ukraine and its residents.
WHAT ARE THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS?
Authorities and rescue workers on both sides stepped up efforts to move beleaguered residents to higher and drier ground — although some complain of an uneven response.
The U.N.’s humanitarian aid agency warned that “the disaster will likely get worse in the coming hours.” It said access to drinking water and health risks associated with contaminated water were among the most pressing concerns.
About 3,000 people were evacuated from areas on both sides of the river, officials said.
A local resident carry a wet dog during evacuation from a flooded neighborhood in Kherson, Ukraine, Wednesday, June 7, 2023 (AP Photo/Libkos)
Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson regional administration, said about 1,700 people had been evacuated in Ukraine-controlled areas as of Wednesday. Hundreds of calls for help were still flooding a government hotline, Prokudin said. The area has a population of about 42,000.
On the Russia-controlled bank, Moscow-appointed regional Gov. Vladimir Saldo said up to 40,000 people remained in flooded areas. His deputy, Tatyana Kuzmich, said 1,274 people had been evacuated, and that the emergency response would last at least 10 days.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said nearly 12,000 bottles of water and 10,000 water purification tablets were distributed to five municipalities in Kherson and in Mykolaiv, where most of evacuees are staying. The U.N. also distributed ready-to-eat meals to about 400 people, he said.
Houses sit in the water in a flooded neighborhood of Kherson, Ukraine, Wednesday, June 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
WHAT REMAINS AT RISK?
The office of Ukraine’s general prosecutor said water levels downstream rose as much as 12 meters (39 feet) above normal.
Vladimir Rogov, an official with the Russia-appointed administration of the Zaporizhzhia region, said the Dnieper had narrowed Wednesday by as much as 65 meters as the reservoir drained.
The head of national hydroelectric company Ukrhydroenergo, Ihor Syrota, said authorities were holding water in upstream reservoirs to compensate in part for the loss of the dam.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram that hundreds of thousands of people were without normal access to drinking water.
Experts warned about an environmental disaster for wildlife and ecosystems. Minefields were inundated, raising the prospect that the explosives could be dislodged.
Ukrainian authorities urged locals to drink only bottled water and avoid eating fish from the river.
Homes are seen underwater in a flooded neighborhood in Kherson, Ukraine, Wednesday, June 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
HOW HAS RUSSIA RESPONDED?
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a call Wednesday with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, blamed Ukraine in his first comments on the incident. He said it was a “barbaric action” that “led to a large-scale environmental and humanitarian catastrophe,” a Kremlin account said.
Some residents in Russian-controlled areas criticized the response from the occupying authorities.
Yevhen Ryschuk, the Ukrainian mayor of Oleshky who fled the city after Russian forces occupied it, said locals told him that Russian authorities hadn’t mobilized evacuation efforts and had left many people stranded.
Ukrainian forces said they were reaching across the front line to help supply civilians in Russian-controlled areas.
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry tweeted a video showing a drone — presumably one of its own — dropping a bottle of water to a woman in a rooftop window in Oleshky. “The Ukrainian military will never leave civilians behind,” it said.
Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram that evacuation efforts in occupied areas had “completely failed.”
WHAT ABOUT THE IMPACT ON FARMING?
In a blow to one of the world’s biggest breadbaskets, Ukraine’s agriculture ministry said about 94% of irrigation systems in the Kherson region have been left without a water source, as well as nearly three-quarters of those in neighboring Zaporizhzhia and about 30% in Dnipropetrovsk.
“The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric station will lead to the fact that the fields in the south of Ukraine next year can turn into deserts,” it said.
Prices for wheat and corn stabilized Wednesday after rising sharply a day earlier over concerns about Ukraine’s ability to ship its grain supplies to developing nations where people are struggling with hunger and high food prices.
___
JAMEY KEATEN reported from Kyiv and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.
