Ice breakup: Ukrainians warned of danger

As a result of rising air temperatures, Ukraine’s rivers and reservoirs are experiencing active ice drift with a subsequent decrease in the thickness of the ice cover and an increase in gullies and cracks. The Hydrometeorological Centre has issued a warning about ice drift.

Such an ice cover is considered insufficiently strong – it is very dangerous to go out on the ice and stay on it. Experts called for safety.

On Facebook, Kyiv police also urged citizens to follow the relevant safety rules and regulations. They stressed that in recent days, the capital of Ukraine has been experiencing warming, and the ice on water bodies is becoming dangerous to walk on. In order to prevent accidents, law enforcement officers remind people of simple rules that can save lives.

Rules of conduct when staying near water bodies and on ice:

• first of all, you should check the thickness of the ice with a sharpened stick or other similar object, and in no case should you go out
  on the ice if it is less than 10 centimetres thick;
• do not drive a sled from steep banks directly onto the ice;
• children without adults are strictly prohibited from going out on the ice;
• do not run or jump on thin ice;
• do not light fires on the ice;
• do not gather on the ice in large groups and do not walk on it alone;
• do not walk near the shores where there are holes, cracks and ice breaks.

In the event of an emergency, call rescuers or law enforcement immediately.

Earlier, the rescuers helped five fishermen near the village of Novi Petrivtsi who were stuck on the ice.