The Cause of the Kakhovka HPP Accident is an Explosion in the Underwater Tunnel: NYT

The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant disaster in Ukraine was caused by an explosion in the underwater tunnel. This was reported by bbc.com, citing the New York Times.

The New York Times editorial team has conducted its own investigation into the causes of the Kakhovka dam disaster. “After interviewing American and Ukrainian experts, as well as analyzing all available data (including satellite data and seismic station indicators), the reporters conclude that the dam explosion occurred from within, as an external attack would not have resulted in such a disaster.

Moreover, the explosion was likely intentional. It occurred at the most vulnerable point of the structure—in the tunnel that passes underwater through the plant’s concrete base and leads to the engine room. Since the plant was built during the Soviet era, detailed blueprints exist in Moscow, making it easy to identify the most susceptible points for sabotage,” the journalists note.