Odesa Floods Kill 10, Rescue Hundreds After Record Storm

Severe flash flooding struck the Ukrainian city of Odesa on September 30, with nearly one and a half months' worth of rain falling in just seven hours, overwhelming the city's drainage systems and causing extensive damage. The disaster resulted in the deaths of nine people, including a family of five with an 8-year-old girl and a child, as well as several other victims, while over 380 people were rescued from flooded homes, buses, and vehicles. Rescue teams worked continuously to evacuate residents from water traps, pump out flooded buildings and underground parking garages, and restore critical infrastructure, with over 250 rescuers and dozens of vehicles involved. The flooding disrupted power for more than 23,700 households and caused road blockages and property damage across Odesa and the surrounding region. In response, local officials declared October 2 a day of mourning, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered a full review of the rescue operations and circumstances leading to the tragedy. Recovery efforts are ongoing as emergency services focus on clearing floodwaters and repairing infrastructure to return the city to normalcy.