Huge Iraqi Dam Could Fail

Iraq’s biggest dam is vulnerable to breaking and flooding the city of Mosul, killing up to 500,000 and flooding the Tigris River, the BBC reports. A US report today warns that an ongoing $27 million reconstruction project has not fixed the dam's flaws. Poor construction, incorrect parts, and possible fraud have marred repairs, the report said.

General Petraeus warned Maliki last May that the dam continued to pose a massive risk, AFP reports. But Baghdad publicly dismisses concerns, saying that repairs and water level management have made the dam safe for now. Yet, according to the report, "in terms of internal erosion potential of the foundation, Mosul Dam is the most dangerous dam in the world." (More Mosul stories.)