Around 1,000 civilians are hiding in the warren-like network of service tunnels and utility passages underground of the besieged city of Mariupol in Ukraine. Families complain that their children now suffer from Vitamin D deficiency due to weeks of no sunlight exposure.
The tunnel these families are in lies beneath the plant where the last Ukrainian defenders of the city have taken refuge. Russia's forces allegedly use bunker-buster bombs that further threaten those hiding underground.
Children play inside a bunker in Severodonetsk, in eastern Ukraine's Donbass region, on April 13, 2022 as Russian troops intensified a campaign to take the strategic port city of Mariupol, part of an anticipated massive onslaught across eastern Ukraine.
Russia Dropping Bunker-Buster Bombs in Mariupol Steel Plant
Ukrainian National Guard's Azov Regiment commander Denys Prokopenko said on Monday that Russia is dropping bunker-buster bombs on the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works plant in the southeastern area of Mariupol, the Associated Press reported.
The plant has tunnels underground that currently serve as a temporary refuge for a thousand civilians. There are many children, women, and elderly people in the tunnel that they share with Ukrainian troops who are defending the city against Russian invaders.
Despite knowing that civilians are in those tunnels, Russia continues to use their bunker-buster bombs with missiles and other types of artillery. Russia has released an ultimatum to Ukrainian troops to give up so lives would be spared. But the Azov Batallion ignored it.
The Russian forces allegedly use bunker-buster bomb to hit targets deep underground and penetrate thick defenses, Yahoo! News reported. Mariupol has been one of the most affected parts of Ukraine since the invasion, with an estimated 21,000 civilians has been killed. Now, the city no longer exists and the remaining Ukrainian army and civilians are encircled by the Russian forces.
How Does Bunker-Buster Bombs Work?
As explained on the website How Stuff Works, bunker busters are bombs that penetrate deep into the earth or right through a dozen feet of the reinforced barrier before exploding. These bombs can reach and destroy facilities that are otherwise impossible to attack.
An example of a bunker-buster bomb is the 4,400-pound GBU-28 or the BLU-113, which measures 19 feet (5.8 meters) long, and 14.5 inches (36.8 cm) in diameter. This bomb has an extremely strong and narrow tube that weighs so heavy.
The bomb is dropped from an airplane so that it will develop a great deal of speed and kinetic energy as it falls to its target. Upon hitting the earth, it will cause a massive shot that could penetrate 100 feet (30.5 meters) of the ground or 20 feet (6 meters) of concrete.
Health Consequences From Lack of Sunlight
According to Healthline, exposure to sunlight triggers the release of serotonin hormone in the brain. This hormone boosts mood and helps the person feel calm and focused.
The lack of sunlight exposure could decrease serotonin, associated with a higher risk of major depressive disorder with seasonal patterns. Previously known as a seasonal affective disorder (SAD), this type of depression is triggered by the changing of seasons.
More so, lack of sunlight exposure could lead to Vitamin D deficiency, a common cause of rickets or the weakening of bones. Individuals who have limited sunlight exposure should include good sources of Vitamin D in their diet, including egg yolks, cow milk, fortified breakfast cereals, orange fruits, fatty fish, shrimp, and chicken liver.
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