A major dam in Hawaii is on the verge of collapse as heavy rainfall hammers the islands, triggering urgent warnings for thousands of locals to evacuate immediately.
The Wahiawa Dam on the island of Oahu is at an ‘imminent risk of failure’ according to the Oahu Department of Emergency Management.
If the dam breaks, it could create a high risk of sudden, life-threatening flooding in areas downstream, specifically in parts of Haleiwa and Waialua on the island’s North Shore.
As of 9am local time (3pm ET), the evacuation order was still active in Oahu, with officials warning residents to grab family members and leave immediately.
Residents were urged to help neighbors only if it was possible to do it safely, but let them know about the alert, and wasting time by packing belongings.
According to the Honolulu Star Advertiser, the downpours have caused the water level in the Wahiawa reservoir to rise to over 85 feet. That amount is well above the normal spillway level of about 80 feet.
Hawaii has been inundated with rain from a heavy storm system known as a ‘Kona low’ which has dumped between eight and 12 inches of rain in certain areas.
This is a breaking story. More details to follow.
The Wahiawa Dam on the island of Oahu is at an ‘imminent risk of failure’ according to the Oahu Department of Emergency Management.
If the dam breaks, officials warned that it could lead to life-threatening floods Haleiwa and Waialua on the Island of Oahu’s North Shore.
Hawaii has been experiencing a heavy storm system called a ‘Kona low’ that has produced eight to 12 inches of rain in some areas
