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.
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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