Officials warn 120-year-old Hawaiian dam could fail as thousands told to evacuate flooding

PBS NewsHour
by Jennifer Kelleher, Associated Press
March 20, 2026
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3 min read

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Hawaiian officials ordered evacuations of thousands of residents after warning a 120-year-old dam faces potential structural failure following heavy flooding.

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Hawaiian officials have ordered evacuations of thousands of residents after warning that a 120-year-old dam faces a potential structural failure. The alert comes after heavy rainfall from a recent storm caused widespread flooding across the islands, destroying roads and homes and raising water levels behind the aging dam infrastructure. Authorities have been monitoring the dam's conditions closely since last week's deluge, concerned that continued water pressure could trigger a catastrophic breach. A dam failure would send a torrent of water downstream, threatening additional communities beyond those already dealing with storm damage. The evacuation represents a precautionary measure as officials assess whether the structure can safely handle current water levels.

What's Being Done

Authorities are monitoring the dam's conditions and have issued evacuation orders as a precautionary measure.

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