Monday, June 9, 2008

Updated: Tangjiashan is failing very rapidly

Latest graph on Tangjiashan flow rates:


It is clear that the failure of the dam is now very rapid and is uncontrollable. It is essential that anyone in a vulnerable location downstream is evacuated immediately. It appears that the workers on the dam have been successfully pulled off the site by helicopter, which is a relief.

Update: Correspondent Andy is now reporting that cracks have been observed on the dam, which suggests that it is failing internally.

1 comment:

  1. Judging by the photos, it looks like the buttress actually held for a while, but the problem was that the channel cut downwards faster than it widened, so the bank was undercut and there was a massive failure of the central part. Sigh. Reminds me of the pictures of Teton failing.

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