Emergency response center for liquidation of  the consequences of natural disaster in the western regions of Ukraine, rescuers and local authorities in five regions work twenty-four hours straight. Work is underway to evacuate the victims and eliminate the consequences of the floods

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal made this statement at a briefing during an emergency working trip to Ivano-Frankivsk region.

In particular, the PM informed that this morning he flew over the affected part of the region and got acquainted with the situation occurred due to the rough weather and talked to people. "The situation in five regions of western Ukraine is critical, Ivano-Frankivsk region has suffered the most. More than 165 settlements were flooded, there are destroyed buildings, including private houses. More than 110 km of roadways and 19 bridges were also destroyed. The last such a devastating flood was in 2008. During this flood, unfortunately, three people died in Ivano-Frankivsk region, " said Denys Shmyhal.

The total amount of the loss caused by the disaster, according to the PM, is being determined: "The Dniester River overflowed its banks, partially flooded state roads of international importance, the situation is still tense. Today the flood hit Ternopil region, three settlements were affected in Zakarpattia region, four in Chernivtski region and one settlement in Lviv region".

The Head of Government also stressed that four helicopters had been redeployed to Ivano-Frankivsk region to combat the disaster Two of them belong to the National Guard, two to the State Emergency Service (SES), one of them is for medical purposes, which can evacuate people if necessary. So, today two pregnant women who could not be taken to hospitals by land transport were evacuated by helicopter. Due to the natural disaster, more than a hundred children will not be able to pass the external independent evaluation. According to Denys Shmyhal, a separate time and a special procedure will be determined for them, according to which they will be able to pass the evaluation later.

"At present, the key priority for the Government is the evacuation of the sick people and those who need  evacuation, the placement of those who have lost their homes. Priority number two is the clearing of embankments formed due to dirt and wood that is stuck near the bridges. For this purpose, additional units of the SES with appropriate equipment were transferred to the region. They will start clearing rivers that could change the course, and thus create an additional danger," the Prime Minister said.

The Head of Government said that the affected regions agreed on the first necessary financial assistance: There is also a need for additional funding  worth UAH 82 million for the restoration of dams and destroyed shores. Tomorrow at an extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers we will consider the issue of allocating these funds from the reserve fund of the state budget. A sum worth UAH 1 million has already been disbursed from the regional reserve fund. "

Moreover, the PM said that today a special mountain division of the National Guard arrived in Ivano-Frankivsk region, as well as about 50 special forces. In total, 150 National Guard soldiers arrived to provide assistance in hard-to-reach mountain areas. The total number of personnel of the National Police, National Guard and SES currently working in Ivano-Frankivsk region is over 1,500. "Rescuers and regional headquarters are now working around the clock, as well as the national headquarters and the commission. Local authorities are working in the same crisis mode. If necessary, people can appeal for help either to the heads of consolidated communities or the heads of districts," the Prime Minister underscored.