List of dam failures
Encyclopedia
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or slows down the flow, often creating a reservoir, lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
or impoundments. Most dams have a section called a spillway
Spillway
A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of flows from a dam or levee into a downstream area, typically being the river that was dammed. In the UK they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways release floods so that the water does not overtop and damage or even destroy...
or weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
over which, or through which, water flows, either intermittently or continuously, and some have hydroelectric power generation
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
systems installed.
Dams are considered "installations containing dangerous forces" under International Humanitarian Law
International humanitarian law
International humanitarian law , often referred to as the laws of war, the laws and customs of war or the law of armed conflict, is the legal corpus that comprises "the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Conventions, as well as subsequent treaties, case law, and customary international law." It...
due to the massive impact of a possible destruction on the civilian population and the environment. Dam failures are comparatively rare, but can cause immense damage and loss of life when they occur.
Main causes of dam failure
- Sub-standard construction materials/techniques (Gleno DamGleno DamThe Gleno Dam was a multiple-arch dam on the Gleno River in the Valle di Scalve in the northern Province of Bergamo, Italy. The dam was constructed between 1916 and 1923 with the purpose of producing hydroelectric power...
) - SpillwaySpillwayA spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of flows from a dam or levee into a downstream area, typically being the river that was dammed. In the UK they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways release floods so that the water does not overtop and damage or even destroy...
design error (South Fork DamSouth Fork DamThe South Fork Dam was located on Lake Conemaugh, an artificial body of water located near South Fork, Pennsylvania, United States. On May 31, 1889, the South Fork Dam failed catastrophically and 20 million tons of water from Lake Conemaugh burst through and raced 14 miles downstream, causing the...
, near failure of Glen Canyon DamGlen Canyon DamGlen Canyon Dam is a concrete arch dam on the Colorado River in northern Arizona in the United States, just north of Page. The dam was built to provide hydroelectricity and flow regulation from the upper Colorado River Basin to the lower. Its reservoir is called Lake Powell, and is the second...
) - Geological instability caused by changes to water levels during filling or poor surveying (MalpassetMalpassetMalpasset was an arch dam on the Reyran River, constructed approximately 7 km north of Fréjus on the Côte d'Azur, southern France, in the Var département. It collapsed on December 2, 1959, killing 421 people in the resulting flood. Various sources indicate death numbers of 361, 400, 423, 429 or 510...
). - Sliding of a mountain into the reservoir (Vaiont Dam – not exactly a dam failure, but caused nearly the entire volume of said reservoir to be displaced and overtop the dam)
- Poor maintenance, especially of outlet pipes (Lawn Lake DamLawn Lake DamLawn Lake Dam was an earthen dam in Rocky Mountain National Park, United States that failed on July 15, 1982 at about 6 a.m. The sudden release of 220 million US gallons of water resulted in a flash flood that killed three people camping in the park and caused $31 million in damage to the town of...
, Val di Stava Dam collapseVal di Stava Dam CollapseThe Val di Stava Dam collapse occurred on 19 July 1985, when two tailings dams above the village of Stava, near Tesero, Northern Italy, failed. It resulted in one of Italy's worst disasters, killing 268 people, destroying 63 buildings and demolishing eight bridges.The upper dam broke first, leading...
) - Extreme inflow (Shakidor DamShakidor DamShakidor Dam was a small dam located near Pasni in Balochistan province of Pakistan. The dam is 485 metres long. It was constructed in 2003 at a cost of 45 million Pakistani Rupees to provide irrigation for nearby farms....
) - Human, computer or design error (Buffalo Creek FloodBuffalo Creek FloodThe Buffalo Creek Flood was a disaster that occurred on February 26, 1972, when the Pittston Coal Company's coal slurry impoundment dam #3, located on a hillside in Logan County, West Virginia, USA, burst four days after having been declared 'satisfactory' by a federal mine inspector.The resulting...
, Dale Dike ReservoirDale Dike ReservoirDale Dike Reservoir or Dale Dyke Reservoir , famous for causing the Great Sheffield Flood, is in the north-east Peak District, in the City of Sheffield South Yorkshire, England, a mile west of Bradfield, eight miles from the centre of Sheffield, on the Dale Dike, a tributary of the River...
, Taum Sauk pumped storage plantTaum Sauk pumped storage plantThe Taum Sauk pumped storage plant is located in the St. Francois mountain region of the Missouri Ozarks approximately south of St. Louis near Lesterville, Missouri in Reynolds County. The pumped-storage hydroelectric plant, operated by the AmerenUE electric company, was designed to help...
) - Internal erosion, especially in earthen dams.
Deliberate dam failure
A notable case of deliberate dam failure (prior to the Humanitarian Law rulings) was the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Dambusters
Operation Chastise
Operation Chastise was an attack on German dams carried out on 16–17 May 1943 by Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron, subsequently known as the "Dambusters", using a specially developed "bouncing bomb" invented and developed by Barnes Wallis...
raid on Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
(codenamed "Operation Chastise
Operation Chastise
Operation Chastise was an attack on German dams carried out on 16–17 May 1943 by Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron, subsequently known as the "Dambusters", using a specially developed "bouncing bomb" invented and developed by Barnes Wallis...
"), in which three German dams were selected to be breached in order to impact on German infrastructure and manufacturing and power capabilities deriving from the Ruhr and Eder
Eder
The Eder is a 177 km long river in Germany, and a tributary of the Fulda River. It was first mentioned by the Roman historian Tacitus as the Adrana in the territory of the Chatti....
rivers. This raid later became the basis for several films.
List of major dam failures
| Dam/incident | Year | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marib Dam Marib Dam The Marib or Ma'rib or Ma'arib Dam blocks the Wadi Adhanah in the valley of Dhana in the Balaq Hills, Yemen. The current dam is close to the ruins of the Great Dam of Marib, dating from around the eighth century BC... |
575 | Sheba Sheba Sheba was a kingdom mentioned in the Jewish scriptures and the Qur'an... , Yemen Yemen The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east.... |
Unknown (possibly neglect) |
| Pantano de Puentes | 1802 | Lorca, Spain | 608 deaths, 1800 houses and 40000 trees destroyed |
| Dale Dike Reservoir Dale Dike Reservoir Dale Dike Reservoir or Dale Dyke Reservoir , famous for causing the Great Sheffield Flood, is in the north-east Peak District, in the City of Sheffield South Yorkshire, England, a mile west of Bradfield, eight miles from the centre of Sheffield, on the Dale Dike, a tributary of the River... |
1864 | South Yorkshire South Yorkshire South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield... , England England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... , United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
Defective construction, small leak in wall grew until dam failed. |
| South Fork Dam South Fork Dam The South Fork Dam was located on Lake Conemaugh, an artificial body of water located near South Fork, Pennsylvania, United States. On May 31, 1889, the South Fork Dam failed catastrophically and 20 million tons of water from Lake Conemaugh burst through and raced 14 miles downstream, causing the... |
1889 | Johnstown, Pennsylvania Johnstown, Pennsylvania Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Blamed locally on poor maintenance by owners; court deemed it an "Act of God Act of God Act of God is a legal term for events outside of human control, such as sudden floods or other natural disasters, for which no one can be held responsible.- Contract law :... ". Followed exceptionally heavy rainfall. Caused Johnstown flood Johnstown Flood The Johnstown Flood occurred on May 31, 1889. It was the result of the catastrophic failure of the South Fork Dam situated upstream of the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA, made worse by several days of extremely heavy rainfall... . |
| Walnut Grove Dam | 1890 | Wickenburg, Arizona Territory Wickenburg, Arizona Wickenburg is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 6,423.-Geography:Wickenburg is located at .... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Heavy snow and rain following public calls by the dam's chief engineer to strengthen the earthen structure. |
| McDonald Dam McDonald Dam failure The McDonald Dam , also referred to as "The Great Granite Dam" failure was a catastrophic dam failure near Austin, Texas that killed several dozen people in 1900. The destruction of the dam drained the Lake McDonald reservoir and left the city of Austin without electrical power for a number of... |
1900 | Texas Texas Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Extreme current caused failure. |
| Austin Dam Austin Dam Austin Dam was a dam in the Freeman Run Valley, Potter County, Pennsylvania, which serviced the Bayless Pulp & Paper Mill. A failure of the dam in 1911 caused significant destruction in the valley below.-History:... |
1911 | Austin, Pennsylvania Austin, Pennsylvania Austin is a borough in Potter County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 623 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Austin is located at .... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Poor design, use of dynamite to remedy structural problems. |
| Desná Dam | 1916 | Desná Desná (Jablonec nad Nisou District) Desná is a town in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. It has around 3,500 inhabitants.The town consists of administrative parts Desná I, Desná II and Desná III.-External links:*... , Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in... (now Czech Republic Czech Republic The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest.... ) |
Construction flaws caused the dam failure |
| Lake Toxaway Lake Toxaway Lake Toxaway is the largest privately held lake in North Carolina. The lake, developed by the , is man-made and covers , and the shoreline is . Water sources for the lake include multiple free flowing mountain streams with the Toxaway River being the main source... Dam |
1916 | Transylvania County, North Carolina Transylvania County, North Carolina Transylvania County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 33,090. Its county seat is Brevard.- History :The county was formed in 1861 from parts of Henderson County and Jackson County... |
Heavy rains caused the dam to give way. Dam was later rebuilt in the 1960s |
| Sweetwater Dam Sweetwater Dam The Sweetwater Dam is a dam across the Sweetwater River in San Diego County, California. As the crow flies, it sits about east of San Diego and northeast of Chula Vista; and just south of the city of La Presa... |
1916 | San Diego County, California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... |
Over-topped from flooding |
| Lower Otay Dam | 1916 | San Diego County, California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... |
Over-topped from flooding; 40 deaths |
| Gleno Dam Gleno Dam The Gleno Dam was a multiple-arch dam on the Gleno River in the Valle di Scalve in the northern Province of Bergamo, Italy. The dam was constructed between 1916 and 1923 with the purpose of producing hydroelectric power... |
1923 | Province of Bergamo Province of Bergamo The Province of Bergamo is a province in the Lombardy region of Italy. It has a population of 1,098,740 , an area of 2,722.86 square km, and contains 244 comuni... , Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
Poor construction and design |
| Llyn Eigiau Llyn Eigiau Llyn Eigiau is a lake on the edge of the Carneddau range of mountains in Snowdonia, North Wales.The name Eigiau is thought to refer to the shoals of fish which once lived here. Early maps refer to it as Llynyga... dam and the outflow also destroyed Coedty reservoir Coedty Reservoir Coedty Reservoir is a reservoir in Snowdonia, North Wales. It is fed by the waters of Afon Porth-llwyd which flows from Llyn Eigiau. The reservoir lies at a height of , and measures some in size. It contains brown trout.... dam. |
1925 | Dolgarrog Dolgarrog Dolgarrog is a small village in the Conwy County Borough in North Wales situated between Llanrwst and Conwy, very close to the Conwy River. The village is well known for its industrial history since the 18th century and the Eigiau dam disaster, which occurred in 1925... , North Wales North Wales North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England... , UK |
Contractor blamed cost-cutting in construction but 25" of rain had fallen in preceding 5 days. This was the last dam failure to cause death in the UK to date (2010). |
| St. Francis Dam St. Francis Dam The St. Francis Dam was a concrete gravity-arch dam, designed to create a reservoir as a storage point of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. It was located 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, California, near the present city of Santa Clarita.... |
1928 | Valencia, California Valencia, California Valencia is an affluent planned community located in the City of Santa Clarita, California and Los Angeles County, California, U.S. in the northwestern corner of the Santa Clarita Valley, adjacent to Interstate 5. In 1987, it was one of the four unincorporated communities that merged to create the... , Los Angeles County, United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Geological instability of canyon wall that could not have been detected with available technology of the time, combined with human error that assessed developing cracks as "normal" for a dam of that type. |
| Nanty Gro Reservoir in Wales | 1942 | Nanty Gro Valley, Wales Wales Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²... |
Destroyed during preparation for Operation Chastise Operation Chastise Operation Chastise was an attack on German dams carried out on 16–17 May 1943 by Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron, subsequently known as the "Dambusters", using a specially developed "bouncing bomb" invented and developed by Barnes Wallis... in World War II. |
| Eder, Möhne Dams | 1943 | Eder Valley, Ruhr Ruhr The Ruhr is a medium-size river in western Germany , a right tributary of the Rhine.-Description:The source of the Ruhr is near the town of Winterberg in the mountainous Sauerland region, at an elevation of approximately 2,200 feet... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
Destroyed by bombing during Operation Chastise Operation Chastise Operation Chastise was an attack on German dams carried out on 16–17 May 1943 by Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron, subsequently known as the "Dambusters", using a specially developed "bouncing bomb" invented and developed by Barnes Wallis... in World War II. |
| Vega de Tera | 1959 | Ribadelago Ribadelago Ribadelago is a village located in province of Zamora, Spain. It depends on Galende municipality.It was partially destroyed in 1959 due to a dam failure in Vega de Tera reservoir, which caused 144 deaths.- References :... , Spain Spain Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula... |
144 deaths |
| Malpasset Malpasset Malpasset was an arch dam on the Reyran River, constructed approximately 7 km north of Fréjus on the Côte d'Azur, southern France, in the Var département. It collapsed on December 2, 1959, killing 421 people in the resulting flood. Various sources indicate death numbers of 361, 400, 423, 429 or 510... |
1959 | Côte d'Azur, France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
Geological fault possibly enhanced by explosives work during construction; initial geo-study was not thorough. |
| Baldwin Hills Reservoir Baldwin Hills Reservoir The Baldwin Hills Reservoir was a water storage basin located on a low hilltop in Baldwin Hills, Los Angeles, California. It was constructed between 1947 and 1951 by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power directly on an active fault line which was subsidiary to the well known nearby... |
1963 | Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, California Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Subsidence Subsidence Subsidence is the motion of a surface as it shifts downward relative to a datum such as sea-level. The opposite of subsidence is uplift, which results in an increase in elevation... caused by over-exploitation of local oil field |
| Spaulding Pond Dam (Mohegan Park) | 1963 | Norwich, Connecticut Norwich, Connecticut Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
6 deaths, more than $6 million estimated damages |
| Vaiont Dam | 1963 | Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
Strictly not a dam failure, since the dam structure did not collapse and is still standing. Filling the reservoir caused geological failure in valley wall, leading to 110 km/h landslide into the lake; water escaped in a seiche over the top of dam. Valley had been incorrectly assessed stable. |
| Mina Plakalnitsa, (Vratsa Vratsa Vratsa is a city in northwestern Bulgaria, at the foothills of the Balkan Mountains. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Vratsa Province. As of February 2011, the town has a population of 60,482 inhabitants.... ) |
1966 | Vratsa Vratsa Vratsa is a city in northwestern Bulgaria, at the foothills of the Balkan Mountains. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Vratsa Province. As of February 2011, the town has a population of 60,482 inhabitants.... , Bulgaria Bulgaria Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east... |
A tailings dam at Plakalnitsa copper mine near the city of Vratsa failed. A total 450,000 cu m of mud and water inundated Vratsa and the nearby village of Zgorigrad, which suffered widespread damage. The official death toll is 107, but the unofficial estimate is around 500 killed. |
| Buffalo Creek Flood Buffalo Creek Flood The Buffalo Creek Flood was a disaster that occurred on February 26, 1972, when the Pittston Coal Company's coal slurry impoundment dam #3, located on a hillside in Logan County, West Virginia, USA, burst four days after having been declared 'satisfactory' by a federal mine inspector.The resulting... |
1972 | West Virginia West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Unstable loose constructed dam created by local coal mining Coal mining The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,... company, collapsed in heavy rain |
| Canyon Lake Dam Black Hills flood The Black Hills Flood of 1972, in the Black Hills of Western South Dakota, USA, occurred on June 9, 1972. The extreme rainfall of around of rain in 6 hours sent Rapid Creek and other creeks overflowing and flooded many residential and commercial properties around the Black Hills... |
1972 | South Dakota South Dakota South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Flooding, dam outlets flooded with debris. |
| Banqiao Banqiao Dam The Banqiao Reservoir Dam is a dam on the River Ru in Zhumadian Prefecture, Henan province, China. It infamously failed in 1975, causing more casualties than any other dam failure in history, and was subsequently rebuilt.... and Shimantan Dams |
1975 | China China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... |
Extreme rainfall beyond the planned design capability of the dam |
| Teton Dam Teton Dam The Teton Dam was a federally built earthen dam on the Teton River in southeastern Idaho, set between Fremont and Madison counties, USA, which when filling for the first time suffered a catastrophic failure on June 5, 1976. The collapse of the dam resulted in the deaths of 11 peopleand 13,000 head... |
1976 | Idaho Idaho Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state.... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Water leakage through earthen wall, leading to dam failure. |
| Laurel Run Dam Laurel Run Dam The Laurel Run Dam, also known as Laurel Run Dam No. 2, was an earthen embankment dam that failed during the 1977 Johnstown flood. It had the largest reservoir of seven dams to fail between July 19 and 20, 1977 and caused the most fatalities of the two that did... |
1977 | Pennsylvania Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Heavy rainfall and flooding that over-topped the dam. |
| Kelly Barnes Dam Kelly Barnes Dam Kelly Barnes Dam was an earthen embankment dam once located in Stephens County, Georgia, just outside of the city of Toccoa. It collapsed on November 6, 1977 after a period of heavy rainfall, and the resulting flood killed 39 people and caused $2.8 million in damages... |
1977 | Georgia Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Unknown, possibly design error as dam was raised several times by owners to improve power generation. |
| Machchu-2 Dam | 1979 | Morbi Morvi Morvi or Morbi is a city and a municipality in Rajkot district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was a Princely State ruled by Jadeja clan of Rajputs until Indian independence in 1947. It is situated on the Kathiawar peninsula. , the city's population was determined to be 73,327. Its chief... , Gujarat, India India India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... |
Heavy rain and flooding beyond spillway capacity. |
| Wadi Qattara Dam Wadi Qattara Dam The Wadi Qattara Dam, also referred to as Gattara or Al-Qattarah, is a clay-fill embankment dam located on Wadi Al-Qattara, east of Benghazi in Libya. Together with a secondary dam located downstream at and seven drop structures, the scheme was constructed after floods damaged the Benghazi area... |
1979 | Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya... , Libya Libya Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west.... |
Flooding beyond discharge and storage capacity damaged the main dam and destroyed the secondary dam in the scheme. |
| Lawn Lake Dam Lawn Lake Dam Lawn Lake Dam was an earthen dam in Rocky Mountain National Park, United States that failed on July 15, 1982 at about 6 a.m. The sudden release of 220 million US gallons of water resulted in a flash flood that killed three people camping in the park and caused $31 million in damage to the town of... |
1982 | Rocky Mountain National Park Rocky Mountain National Park Rocky Mountain National Park is a national park located in the north-central region of the U.S. state of Colorado.It features majestic mountain views, a variety of wildlife, varied climates and environments—from wooded forests to mountain tundra—and easy access to back-country trails... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Outlet pipe erosion; dam under-maintained due to location |
| Tous Dam | 1982 | Valencia, Spain | |
| Val di Stava Dam collapse Val di Stava Dam Collapse The Val di Stava Dam collapse occurred on 19 July 1985, when two tailings dams above the village of Stava, near Tesero, Northern Italy, failed. It resulted in one of Italy's worst disasters, killing 268 people, destroying 63 buildings and demolishing eight bridges.The upper dam broke first, leading... |
1985 | Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
Poor maintenance and low margin for error in design; outlet pipes failed leading to pressure on dam. |
| Peruća Dam detonation | 1993 | Croatia Croatia Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ... |
Not strictly a dam failure as there was a detonation of pre-positioned explosives by retreating Serb Forces Military of Serbian Krajina * Armored Vehicles** T-34/85** T-55** T-72 ** M-84 ** PT-76** OT M-60** BVP M-80** BOV ** BRDM-2** M36 Jackson** M18 Hellcat* Artillery** M-63 Plamen** M-77 Oganj * Anti-aircraft ** ZSU-57-2** M53/59 Praga... . |
| Saguenay Flood Saguenay Flood The Saguenay Flood was a series of flash floods that hit the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec, Canada, on July 19 and 20, 1996. It was the biggest overland flood in 20th century Canadian history.... |
1996 | Quebec Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level.... , Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... |
Problems started after two weeks of constant rain, which severely engorged soils, rivers and reservoirs. Post-flood enquiries discovered that the network of dikes and dams protecting the city was poorly maintained. |
| Meadow Pond Dam Meadow Pond Dam Meadow Pond Dam was an earthen dam in Alton, New Hampshire, in the United States, that collapsed in 1996, causing a fatal flood.- Location :Alton is a town of 5,000 located at the southern tip of Lake Winnipesaukee in east-central New Hampshire. A single two-lane highway serves as the main gateway... |
1996 | New Hampshire New Hampshire New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Design and construction deficiencies resulted in failure in heavy icing conditions |
| Opuha Dam Opuha Dam The Opuha Dam is located on the Opuha River, a tributary of the Opihi River in South Canterbury, New Zealand. The dam is used for water storage for farming irrigation and provides 7.7 MW of electricity to New Zealand's national grid.... |
1997 | New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... |
Heavy rain during construction caused failure, dam was later completed |
| Vodní nádrž Soběnov | 2002 | Soběnov Soběnov Soběnov is a village and municipality in Český Krumlov District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic.The municipality covers an area of , and has a population of 312 .... , Czech Republic Czech Republic The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest.... |
Extreme rainfall during the 2002 European floods 2002 European floods In August 2002 a 100-year flood caused by over a week of continuous heavy rains ravaged Europe, killing dozens, dispossessing thousands, and causing damage of billions of euros in the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Croatia.... |
| Ringdijk Groot-Mijdrecht | 2003 | Wilnis Wilnis Wilnis is a village in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the municipality of De Ronde Venen, between Mijdrecht and Vinkeveen. About twenty kilometres south of Amsterdam.Wilnis was a separate municipality until 1989.... , Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
Peat dam became lighter than water during droughts and floated away |
| Hope Mills Dam Hope Mills Dam The Hope Mills Dam, also known as Hope Mills Dam #1, is currently a failed concrete dam on Little Rockfish Creek in Hope Mills, North Carolina, which created Hope Mills Lake. Three different dams were built on the site including the current one. The first dam, of rock-crib design, was built in 1839... |
2003 | North Carolina North Carolina North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Heavy rains caused earthen dam and bank to wash away |
| Big Bay Dam Big Bay Dam Big Bay Dam was an earthen dam located 11 miles west of Purvis, Mississippi in Lamar County. On March 12, 2004 the Big Bay dam embankment failed though piping in the vicinity of the principal spillway 12 years after construction. A peak breach flow of 147,000 ft3/s was estimated from the... |
2004 | Mississippi Mississippi Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
A small hole in the dam, grew bigger and eventually led to failure. |
| Camará Dam Camará Dam The Camará Dam was a dam located on the Mamanguape River in Paraiba, northeastern Brazil. It burst on June 17, 2004, flooding towns of Alagoa Grande and Mulungu. At least three people died by drowning.- References :... |
2004 | Brasil | |
| Shakidor Dam Shakidor Dam Shakidor Dam was a small dam located near Pasni in Balochistan province of Pakistan. The dam is 485 metres long. It was constructed in 2003 at a cost of 45 million Pakistani Rupees to provide irrigation for nearby farms.... |
2005 | Pakistan Pakistan Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan... |
Sudden and extreme flooding caused by abnormally severe rain, 70 deaths |
| Taum Sauk reservoir Taum Sauk pumped storage plant The Taum Sauk pumped storage plant is located in the St. Francois mountain region of the Missouri Ozarks approximately south of St. Louis near Lesterville, Missouri in Reynolds County. The pumped-storage hydroelectric plant, operated by the AmerenUE electric company, was designed to help... |
2005 | Lesterville, Missouri Lesterville, Missouri Lesterville, Missouri is an unincorporated community in southeast Missouri. It is located in Reynolds County on Routes 21, 49, and 72 near the Black River.... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Computer/operator error; gauges intended to mark dam full were not respected; dam continued to fill. Minor leakages had also weakened the wall through piping. |
| Campos Novos Dam Campos Novos Dam The Campos Novos Dam is a hydroelectric dam in Santa Catarina province in southern Brazil... |
2006 | Campos Novos Campos Novos Campos Novos is a city in Santa Catarina, in the Southern Region of Brazil. Campos Novos is a pioneer in production of pollen and the biggest grain and oat producer of Santa Catarina.The municipality invests also into fatstock and poultry farming.... , Brazil Brazil Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people... |
Tunnel collapse |
| Gusau Dam | 2006 | Gusau Gusau Gusau is a city and Local Government Area located in northwestern Nigeria. It is the capital of Zamfara State.The LGA has an area of 3,364 km² and a population of 383,162 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 880.-Geography:... , Nigeria Nigeria Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in... |
Heavy flooding |
| Ka Loko Dam Ka Loko Reservoir Ka Loko Reservoir is a reservoir created by an earthen dam, on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. It is located on the north side of the island, at . Waters flow from Ka Loko Reservoir down to Waiakalua Reservoir, Waiakalua Stream, and down to the Pacific Ocean.... |
2006 | Kauai Kauai Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",... , Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of... |
Heavy rain and flooding. Several possible specific factors to include poor maintenance, lack of inspection and illegal modifications. |
| Lake Delton | June 9th, 2008 | Lake Delton Lake Delton Lake Delton is a man-made freshwater lake in Sauk County in central Wisconsin. For much of 2008, it was a mostly empty lake basin after a portion of a county highway that forms part of the dike wall eroded on June 9, 2008, under the pressure of floods in the area. The resulting washout caused the... , Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is... |
Failure due to June 2008 Midwest floods June 2008 Midwest floods The June 2008 Midwestern United States floods were flooding events which affected portions of the Midwest United States. After months of heavy precipitation, a number of rivers overflowed their banks for several weeks at a time and broke through levees at numerous locations. Flooding continued... . |
| Koshi Barrage Koshi Barrage The Koshi Barrage is a flood control sluice across the Koshi River at the Nepal–Indian border. It was built between 1958 and 1962.The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is several miles north of the Barrage.- 2008 flood :... |
2008 | Kusha Kusha Kusha may refer to:* Kusha , one of six schools of Japanese Buddhism in the Nara period* Kusha , in Hindu mythology, was one of the twin sons of Lord Rama and Sita* Kusha, tall tufted perennial grass. See also: Poa cynosuroides... , Nepal Nepal Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India... |
Heavy rain. |
| Situ Gintung Situ Gintung Situ Gintung was an artificial lake near to the town of Cirendeu in Tangerang District, Indonesia. It was formed by a dam up to high which was built by Dutch colonial authorities in 1933... Dam |
2009 | Tangerang Tangerang Tangerang is a city in the Province of Banten, Indonesia. It is located about 25 km west of Jakarta. It is the third largest urban center in the Jabotabek region after Jakarta and Bekasi. It has an area of 164.54 km² and an official intercensal estimated population of 1,537,244 for 2005... , Indonesia Indonesia Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an... |
Poor maintenance and heavy monsoon rain |
| Kyzyl-Agash Dam Kyzyl-Agash Dam The Kyzyl-Agash Dam failure occurred in a dam located outside the village of Kyzyl-Agash, Almaty Province, Kazakhstan. On 11 March 2010, the dam burst, flooding the village... |
2010 | Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe... |
Heavy rain and snowmelt |
| Hope Mills Dam Hope Mills Dam The Hope Mills Dam, also known as Hope Mills Dam #1, is currently a failed concrete dam on Little Rockfish Creek in Hope Mills, North Carolina, which created Hope Mills Lake. Three different dams were built on the site including the current one. The first dam, of rock-crib design, was built in 1839... |
2010 | North Carolina North Carolina North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Sinkhole Sinkhole A sinkhole, also known as a sink, shake hole, swallow hole, swallet, doline or cenote, is a natural depression or hole in the Earth's surface caused by karst processes — the chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks or suffosion processes for example in sandstone... caused dam failure |
| Delhi Dam Delhi Dam Delhi Dam, also known as Hartwick Dam, was an embankment dam on the Maquoketa River 2.5km southwest of Delhi, Iowa that created Lake Delhi. The dam was over-topped and subsequently failed on July 24, 2010 after a period of heavy rain... |
2010 | Iowa Iowa Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Heavy rain, flooding. |
| Ajka alumina plant accident Ajka alumina plant accident The Ajka alumina sludge spill was an industrial accident at a caustic waste reservoir chain of the Ajkai Timföldgyár alumina plant in Ajka, Veszprém County, in western Hungary... |
October 4, 2010 | Hungary Hungary Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The... |
Failure of concrete impound wall on alumina plant tailings dam. |
| Kenmare Resources Kenmare Resources Kenmare Resources plc is a mining company based in Ireland. It is listed on the Irish Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:... tailings dam |
October 8, 2010 | Mozambique Mozambique Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest... |
Failure of tailings dam at titanium Titanium Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color.... mine. |
| Fujinuma Dam Fujinuma Dam The , was an earth-fill embankment dam in Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. It was established on the Ebana River, a tributary of the Abukuma River, west of the city office of Sukagawa City. Construction on the dam commenced in 1937 and it was completed in 1949 after construction was... |
March 11, 2011 | Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
Failed after 2011 Tōhoku earthquake 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east... . |
External links
- A list of dam failures and incidents in the United States Dam Safety.org
- Chronology of major tailings dam failures from 1960 WISE Uranium Project
- Chanson, H.Hubert ChansonHubert Chanson is a professor in hydraulic engineering and applied fluid mechanics in the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Queensland since 1990...
(2009) Application of the Method of Characteristics to the Dam Break Wave Problem Journal of Hydraulic Research, IAHR, Vol. 47, No. 1, pp. 41–49 (DOI: 10.3826/jhr.2009.2865) (ISSN 0022-1686). Available as a pdf at http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/eserv/UQ:164021/jhr09_01b.pdf
See also
- LeveeLeveeA levee, levée, dike , embankment, floodbank or stopbank is an elongated naturally occurring ridge or artificially constructed fill or wall, which regulates water levels...
- List of hydroelectric power station failures
- Grout curtainGrout curtainGrout curtains are barriers that protect a dam from seepage and can be used in initial construction or repair. Additionally, they can be used to strengthen foundations and contain spills.-Characteristics:...
- Structural failureStructural failureStructural failure refers to loss of the load-carrying capacity of a component or member within a structure or of the structure itself. Structural failure is initiated when the material is stressed to its strength limit, thus causing fracture or excessive deformations...
- Hydroelectric power station failures
- HydroelectricityHydroelectricityHydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...