Some 500,000 people lives are at risk from the real prospect of Iraq's largest dam collapsing at any time. The Mosul dam is just 50kms or 30 miles from the city of Mosul and if the dam breaks a wave as high as 20 metres or 70ft could swamp the city and cause flooding as far away as Baghdad. US military have already order all their equipment and personnel out of the immediate area.
The dam is a product of the Hussein era when it was built on water soluble gypsum, resulting on erosion. But the crisis is also typical of failed reconstruction in Iraq with accusations that the $27 million spent on trying to secure the dam being mismanaged and riddled with fraud. Despite all efforts on a round the clock basis new fissures are opening all the time. The Iraqi government denies the crisis and has kept the situation hushed up to avoid panic in the population
The dam is a product of the Hussein era when it was built on water soluble gypsum, resulting on erosion. But the crisis is also typical of failed reconstruction in Iraq with accusations that the $27 million spent on trying to secure the dam being mismanaged and riddled with fraud. Despite all efforts on a round the clock basis new fissures are opening all the time. The Iraqi government denies the crisis and has kept the situation hushed up to avoid panic in the population
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