Heavy rains lead to flooding, destruction and humor in Kyiv

Heavy downpours hit Kyiv, causing floods and destruction across Ukraine’s capital on July 25.

Frequent showers started over the weekend of July 21-22, but these weren’t as destructive as several rains that hit Kyiv on July 25, which flooded many underground passages and road networks, rendering them impassable. Strong winds downed dozens of trees and even bent metal billboards.

Local authorities said that they have repaired the damage, working around the clock and most of Kyiv is indeed dry. However, some roads, including ones near Shulyavska, Dorohozhytchy, Livoberezhna metro stations, remain blocked and need city services to drain the water. In particular, the intersection of Oleny Telihy Street and Kyrylivska Street and an underpass near the Dorohozhychi metro station are still flooded and require detours.

Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko says the main cause of the floods is obsolete storm collectors, which haven’t been redone for 60 years, as well as a “phenomenal” rainfall rate. Klitschko promised to resurface the roads and install new collectors nearby Livoberezhna by 2019.

Rainfall in Kyiv broke records in June with 111 millimeters of rain, 152 percent more than the seasonal norm, according to Sreznevsky Central Geophysical Observatory.