"There is no rescue operation" to help survivors of Mariupol theater attack, according to former official
Attempts to pull survivors out of the rubble of a destroyed theater in Mariupol, Ukraine, are being hindered by the complete breakdown of social services in the city and the dangers of further Russian attacks, according to the former head of the Donetsk regional administration.
“People are doing everything themselves. My friends went to help, but due to constant shelling, it was not safe. People are clearing away the rubble themselves. There is no rescue operation, because all the services that are supposed to rescue people, to treat them, to bury them, these services no longer exist," Sergiy Taruta told Ukrainian television.
Few reports on rescue efforts have emerged since the theater, which was being used as a shelter, was attacked early Wednesday evening.
Taruta said it was his understanding there were about 1,300 people sheltering in the theatre, of whom 130 people had been rescued so far, according to the latest information he had.
Earlier, Taruta said on Facebook that the building's bomb shelter had remained intact.
