Gammalsvenskby is located about 2.5 km upstream from the dam and there the water level is now dropping after being extremely high for a couple of weeks, because the regulation of the dam has been out of order.

"You can wonder if the collapse also has to do with the high water level," says Sofia Hoas, chairman of the association Svenskbyborna på Gotland, which has been in contact with villagers in the morning.

Through its Swedish descendants, Gammalsvenskby has connections to Gotland.

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Watch the drone footage showing masses of water gushing over the destroyed dam in Ukraine. Photo: Twitter