Washington [US], June 25: According to CBS News, the Rapidan Dam located on the Minnesota River is in danger of breaking at any time after floodwaters partially broke the west abutment of the dam. The 114-year-old dam remains intact and there are no plans for a large-scale evacuation. However, river water was rushing past the west end of the dam and the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for areas downstream.
Residents of Le Sueur County in the lowlands of the Minnesota River Valley were advised to closely monitor the situation and potentially evacuate.
The Blue Earth County Sheriff's Department said trash and debris began accumulating at the dam on June 23, posing an immediate risk of the dam collapsing. Managers warned officials on the morning of June 24 that river water had caused soil erosion at the west end of the dam, located on the southern edge of Mankato. Some houses are located right at the edge of the land.
Xcel Energy's transformer station at the dam was swept away by floodwaters in the early morning of May 24. The company said it is working to replace and restore power.
Governor Tim Walz issued a notice on the afternoon of June 24 saying that agencies are in close contact with local officials and the emergency management team is at the scene, responding quickly to ensure people's safety.
The police department also said there had been a power outage in some places and was working with the power company to restore it.
Mr. Waltz said about 40 counties were affected by flooding, with some declaring a state of emergency. The governor said he will ask the president to declare a disaster if the damage exceeds the threshold necessary to request assistance from the federal government.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
