Over 180000 to evacuate in Northern California after damaged channels


More than one hundred and eighty thousand people in northern California have been told to evacuate their homes after an overflow channel at the tallest dam in the US was weakened by heavy rainfall.
 
The emergency spillway of the seven hundred and seventy feet tall Oroville Dam, was close to collapse. 

The excess water has now stopped flowing.

However, late on Sunday Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea, said the evacuation orders remained in place.

Water levels in the reservoir have risen following heavy rain and snow after years of severe drought.

It is the first time that Lake Oroville, which lies 105killometres north of Sacramento, has experienced such an emergency in the dam's near 50-year history.


SOURCE: BBC NEWS