Ukrainians face homelessness and disease as floodwaters crest from destroyed dam

Each side accused the other of continuing to shell across the floodzone and warned of drifting landmines unearthed by the flooding

Streets are flooded in Kherson, Ukraine, Wednesday, June 7, 2023 after the Kakhovka dam was blown up. Picture: AP Photo/Libkos

Ukrainians abandoned their inundated homes as floodwaters crested across a swathe of the south on Wednesday after the destruction of a vast dam on the front line between Russian and Ukrainian forces that each blamed on the other.

Residents waded through flooded streets carrying children on their shoulders, dogs in their arms and belongings in plastic bags while rescuers used rubber boats to search areas where the waters reached above head height.