14 Sep 2018

Dam threat in Hawaii sparks evacuation plans

2:52 pm on 14 September 2018

Officials in Hawaii are preparing for the possible evacuation of as many as 10,000 residents who live downstream from a reservoir that may spill over.

The Wailuku River flood waters run downstream on the Big Island. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP

Hawaii has been hit by a series of hurricanes and tropical storms this month, which have saturated the state and forced a disaster declaration. Photo: AFP

However, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply said there is no immediate danger and an evacuation is unlikely.

The board said a tropical storm that hit this week has elevated levels in the Nuuanu Dam to the point of being close to spilling over.

It said the heavy rains have outstripped the ability to siphon water out of the dam.

The fire department was also trying to pump water out of the dam to bring levels down further.

The archipelago has been hit by a series of hurricanes and tropical storms this month, which have saturated the state and forced a disaster declaration.

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