Minnesota dam imperiled by flooding, teetering on the edge of collapse.
County officials in Blue Earth warned about the potential collapse of the Rapidan Dam near Mankato, Minnesota, via a Facebook post on Monday.
They stated that the Dam is at an immediate risk of collapse, but it's unclear if it will completely fail or remain in place. Given this uncertainty, the announcement was made to inform downstream residents and the relevant authorities and local agencies.
The initial alert was issued due to the accumulation of debris at the dam on Sunday. Workers from the Public Works, the emergency management agency, and the sheriff’s office have since been keeping a close watch on the dam, as reported in the Facebook post.
According to emergency management reports, the Blue Earth River has carved a path around the west side of the dam, causes power outages, and carries damaging debris.
In a Monday evening update, county officials noted a "partial failure on the west abutment," but the dam remains intact, and there are no plans for a mass evacuation as of now.
The dam, built in 1910, belongs to the county and is capable of producing six million watts of hydroelectric power. It's located approximately 70 miles southwest of Minneapolis.
Flooding caused significant destruction across the Midwest, with at least one death reported in South Dakota and emergency response teams activated in multiple states. Iowa's governor, Kim Reynolds, has requested a major disaster declaration from President Joe Biden, following the catastrophic flooding that forced some communities to evacuate.
CNN's Zoe Sottile contributed to this report.
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Residents downstream and local authorities in the area have been informed about the potential danger due to the Rapidan Dam's situation. The county is closely monitoring the situation, with various agencies working together to ensure safety.
