Rescuers working on the Ukrainian side of the Dnieper River report that they are working under fire. "The biggest problem right now is not the water, it's the Russians across the river shelling us," said Andrew Negrich, who is coordinating rescue efforts for the US aid organization Global Empowerment Mission.

Late last night, Reuters reporters heard four artillery strikes near a residential area where civilians had been evacuated due to flooding caused by the collapse of the Kakhovka Dam.

The pro-Russian mayor of the nearby town of Nova Kakhovka, which is under Russian occupation, said that after the destruction of the dam, at least seven people disappeared, reports the Russian news agency Tass.

No casualties have been reported so far in connection with the flooding, but White House National Security Adviser John Kirby said the flooding "probably caused many casualties".

VIDEO | Andonovic: The huge Kakhovka dam that supplies Zaporozhye nuclear plant has been destroyed - is a nuclear disaster threatening?