Direct the work of the Mosul dam maintenance middle of next month

[Wiljor]

MILLIONS IN ISIS-OCCUPIED NORTHERN IRAQ THREATENED WITH CATASTROPHIC DAM COLLAPSE

Iraq, May 8, 2016 Iraqi and US diplomats have warned of a serious danger to millions of people around the giant Mosul dam, which is undergoing repairs and could breach at any moment, releasing a killer flood wave capable of wiping out entire cities and even flooding Baghdad.  Just as the UN has warned of up to 2 million people projected to be displaced in Iraq this year by the fighting with Islamic State (IS, ISIS/ISIL), an even more apocalyptic threat looms in the country’s largest dam on the Tigris River, which, according to TASS, could affect up to 6 million people, with as many as 2 million of them living in and around Mosul. Iraq’s permanent representative to the UN Mohamed Ali Alhakim warned residents in and around the area of the Mosul Dam that it is in imminent danger of collapse, while describing the steps the Iraqi government had undertaken to lower the water level there. “The Iraqi government took important precaution measures, having lowered the water level in the reservoir behind the dam to 307 meters (1007 feet). We called upon our citizens to be alert and cautious,” he said Friday, advising locals to “determine the safe distance from the dam in case it collapses.” The Mosul Dam can hold up to 12.5 million cubic meters of water, and could flood swaths of land in the north of the country. In the worst case scenario, it would literally release a wall of water and debris, first burying the city of Mosul, which lies only 64 kilometers (40 miles) from the facility, and rolling up to 400 kilometers (250 miles) south, even reaching the capital. The ISIS-occupied northern Iraqi city is currently home to between 750,000 and 2 million inhabitants, according to varying estimates. Before it was overrun by terrorists in 2014, its population was thought to be some 2.5 million people. The US Embassy in Iraq on Sunday warned of a “serious and unprecedented risk of catastrophic failure with little warning” at the dam. In February, the US estimated the number of possible casualties from 500,000 to 1.47 million people residing in the most dangerous area of the flood path, if they are not evacuated in time. Although Iraqi authorities are being aided by the Italian engineering company Trevi Group, with which it struck a deal in March this year, the 3.2-kilometer (2-mile) dam rising 113 meters (371 feet) high could fail the increasingly complex maintenance. The soil on which the dam, originally named after the late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, was built back in 1983, is severely eroded due to its unstable structure. In order to prevent dam from exploding, tons of concrete are being poured into the dam’s boreholes daily within the process known as “grouting.” A brief 10-day capture of the dam by IS militants in August 2014 disrupted the grouting work for more than a month which made things much worse in terms of water containment. Although, the dam now stays under the protection of the US-led coalition forces, Mosul remains an IS stronghold with the group controlling a cement factory. The immense challenge comes as the country experiences a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe being at the forefront of the fight against Islamic State, with a third of 37 million Iraqi population in need of aid. “Nearly a third of the population – over 10 million people – now require some form of humanitarian assistance. The military campaign, depending on its scope and intensity will almost certainly lead to mass displacement in the months ahead,” Jan Kubis, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Iraq, said Friday, estimating the number of people that can be forced to leave their homes by an Islamic State offensive at 2 million this year alone. “In a worst case scenario, more than 2 million more Iraqis may be newly displaced by the end of the year,” Kubis said.

 

 

http://iraqdailyjournal.com/story-z13062086

[blueskyline]

Thanks Wiljor . Is it just me or does anyone else get the feeling that when folks dont act right in Baghdad . They are perhaps purposely reminded of the Mosul Dam ?

 

Edited May 8, 2016 by blueskyline

[yota691]

Urgent Abadi discuss with the Defence Minister deployment of Italian troops near Mosul Dam

History of edits:: 9/5/2016 17:05 • 289 visits readable

[Wayne - Follow - up] 
Search Prime Minister Haider al - Abadi with the Italian defense minister who arrived this afternoon to the capital Baghdad, the deployment of Italian troops near Mosul Dam.

The Abadi has called on February 10 the Italian company in charge of the reform of the Mosul Dam, the largest in Iraq, to "speed up" at the start of the workshop restoration. 
Iraq announced officially take over the company , "Trevi" Italian repair and maintenance of Mosul Dam in danger of collapse. 
The dam is located just 40 km from the city of Mosul , which is controlled by regulating Daash since June 2014. 
In December / September last, said Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi send an additional 450 soldiers will be assigned to Italy, with American soldiers, ensuring the security of the area surrounding the dam.

[yota691]

Resources: the demise of the danger of collapse of the Mosul Dam

 

 

5/10/2016 0:00   Baghdad , Ahmed Abed Rabbo     announced the Ministry of Water Resources demise of the danger of collapse of the Mosul Dam , who was standing by the flood wave due to the expiry snow melt river basin in Iraq and neighboring countries season, but it was confirmed that the works of maintenance and Thacath going on according to prepared plan.  The  ministry adviser and director of the General Authority dams and reservoirs where Mehdi Rashid Mahdi said in a statement »Sabah»: the threat that existed on the collapse of the Mosul dam as a result of flood wave caused by melting snow, has completely still, attributing this to the end of the snow melt season , whether within Iraq or neighboring countries .  He said Mahdi said the dam believer in full, and there is no negative index, raising concerns about the collapse at the moment.  the press reports have talked about the fears of the collapse of the Mosul dam through waves of flood passed in the spring season , resulting from the melting of seasonal snow, indicating it will work the cracked walls of the dam because Altaksvat ground, but the Ministry of water resources has confirmed more than once that the safety of the dam.  the dam is located-long three thousand and 650 meters and a height of 121 meters, on the course of the Tigris River , 50 km north of the city of Mosul, and had ended business year inception 1986 by two German and Italian.  He Mahdi said the cadres of the competent ministry is continuing maintenance and Over stuffing of the foundations of the dam around the clock through the specialized machines, indicating that the dam is working at present on according to operational policy of the stomach and the plan by the ministry as the competent authority in the country.  the suffering dam since construction of the emerging problems for his stay on the land includes configurations of the subjects (gypsum) and (Alanhdraat), which constantly Tdhuban by the water stored in the lake provider dam, but the machines Over stuffing that operate around the clock work to prevent this by injecting founded textured concrete produced by the private factory continued to fill the shares so far in the injection of nearly 90,000 tons of it. He ministry adviser and director of the General Authority for dams and reservoirs in the ministry that the amount of water in the dam lake is currently exceed five billion cubic meters and promise good compared to the same duration of last year, noting that the releases are going high smoothly without problems.  In terms of starting maintenance work by Italian company, said it had so far not proceed effectively, and expected that the company initiated in July or August next. The government signed earlier contracts worth 273 million euros with the company (Trevi) Italian for the maintenance of the Mosul Dam.  He Mahdi said the government put the operational policy of Mosul Dam, in the hierarchy of priorities, stressing that it has paid a problem the dam much attention, as the aquatic plants that depend on them the country in the provision of water quotas.  upstaged Mosul dam on the great interest by officials and specialists as one of the largest dams in the country and the fourth in the Middle East region in terms of storage in its lake that exceed the capacity of 11 billion cubic meters.

[yota691]

Direct the work of the Mosul dam maintenance middle of next month

 

 

8/15/2016 0:00   Baghdad , Ahmed Abed Rabbo   hoped to proceed with the Italian company acts Mosul dam maintenance middle of next month, as revealed and the Ministry of Water Resources announced the arrival of a new meal of hardware and equipment for the project, confirmed that the overall rate of release of the dam up to 400 cubic meters per second. The  ministry adviser and director SOD and reservoirs where, Mehdi Rashid Mahdi said in a statement »Sabah»: a delegation from the ministry is currently visiting the Mosul Dam in Nineveh province, to see the latest developments concerning the maintenance work, stressing the continuation of the cadres of the ministry work of operation and maintenance in accordance with the operational policy prepared in advance.  The fears have escalated from the collapse of the Mosul dam during the spring season, but the Ministry of water resources and some government agencies, ruled more than once that the possibility of collapse.  He said Mahdi, said that the company (Trevi) Italian continues the transfer of equipment and devices , which need maintenance to the dam 's headquarters, as recently reached a new meal of them, it is expected that the maintenance work began in earnest the middle of next month, stressing that the gloss walls of the dam operation and repair gates, will not affect the water inventories found in the lake. the  government signed last March a month, contracts worth 273 million euros with the company (Trevi) Italian for the maintenance of the Mosul dam.  He ministry adviser and director of the General Administration of dams and reservoirs which said the Italian company 's mission, also require training of cadres working in the dam on the latest methods of Over stuffing, with modern instruments and sensors inauguration, in addition to that it also would reform the gates bottom to him.  he stressed that the Mosul dam situation is still assured, adding that the releases rate up to the limits of the 400 cubic meters per second, compared to the current revenue hyphen him by the Tigris River , amounting to up to 100 cubic meters per second.  According to Mahdi, the ministry in such a time of the year, increases the water releases from the dam to meet the growing season summer requirements, in the central and southern regions, stressing continue securing water quotas for all the provinces that will ensure secure their need of water.  Mosul dam is one of the largest dams of the country and the fourth in the Middle East and it is located on the course of the Tigris River , 50 km north of the city of Mosul, and ended business year 1986 inception, with a length of three kilometers and 650 meters and a height of 131 meters.

[Butifldrm]

Inside Mosul Dam, Iraq's biggest potential weapon of mass destruction

 

Mosul Dam: Race to fix a 'weapon of mass destruction'

The race is on to fix Mosul Dam after ISIS occupation and war left the structure in danger of collapsing which can potentially harm millions of lives.

EXCLUSIVE –  From the crack of dawn to a starry dusk, hundreds of technicians from around the world can be seen against a backdrop of pale-colored mountains and a still, sapphire reservoir. It appears serene and picturesque, but those workers are rushing to salvage Iraq’s deteriorating Mosul Dam – which was once under ISIS control and straddles the Tigris River just 40 miles upstream from the city of Mosul.

Failure to reinforce and maintain the dam could mean unleashing what is, in effect, a potential weapon of mass destruction.

Mosul Dam  (Fox News/Hollie McKay )

“When we started, the risk assessment regarding the potential fate of the dam was very high. And ISIS had stolen everything that was here,” Carlos Morales, deputy project manager for Trevi, the Italian company awarded the repair and maintenance contract to prevent catastrophe, told Fox News on a recent exclusive visit to Mosul Dam.

The dam, the largest in the country with the capacity to hold 3 trillion gallons of water, controls the flow of the Tigris River north of Mosul and supplies electricity to more than a million residents. The Army Corps of Engineers estimates that if the dam ruptures, it will send floodwaters crashing more than 200 miles downstream – swallowing villages and much of Mosul City with waves as high as 80 feet. In addition, floodwaters could reach as far as Baghdad and potentially result in the loss and displacement of millions of lives and up to $20 billion in damages.

Mosul Dam  (Fox News/Hollie McKay )

Furthermore, a 2015 study from the European Commission’s Science Center concluded that even a partial fissure that released just one quarter of its full capacity would be disastrous. The concern even prompted an urgent memo from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad in March 2016, cautioning Americans to “avoid areas within three miles of the river and have a plan in case of emergency.”

Construction on Mosul Dam  (Fox News/Hollie McKay )

Progress is being made. Since the emergency work began just over a year ago, some 15,000 metric tons of cement have been poured into the 370-foot structure and more than 150 miles of electrical grids have been installed. Also, some of the “critical grouting,” the pumping of a mixture of clay, water and cement into the dangerously soft bed of gypsum on which the dam wall rests has been completed. Another year of critical grouting is planned.

The dam, which has been a cause of concern since it was built in 1984 and known at the time as the “Saddam Dam,” was captured by ISIS in August 2014 in the early onslaught of the terror group. Although it only controlled the area for 10 days before being run out by Kurdish and Iraqi forces, the massive structure has deteriorated badly as it has not received mandatory maintenance from either ISIS or, subsequently, coalition forces.

ISIS CURSED, MOCKED IN MOSUL, WHERE OLD CITY REMAINS A HAUNTED WASTELAND

AFTER ISIS CAMPAIGN, IRAN-BACKED FIGHTERS IN IRAQ VOW TO DRIVE OUT US TROOPS

The Trevi Group is calling its work a “success” -- so far -- yet the intense pace of its work must be maintained for the sake of scores of lives downstream of the dam. The Iraqi government has not yet officially renewed the group’s contract, which the Iraqi government says was worth about $300 million and funded in large part with a loan from the World Bank. That contract expires this spring.

Chinese memorial for workers who died constructing Mosul Dam  (Fox News/Hollie McKay )

Discussions are underway about continuing the Trevi partnership into 2019, as the Iraqi government has acknowledged ongoing risks to the dam, an officials with the Corps told Fox News.

“Some grouting results look promising, but uncertainty will remain until grouting efforts have progressed across the full length of the dam,” the representative of the Corps said. “The Ministry of Water Resources has concluded that a second year of grouting and training is necessary.”

The Trevi contract also came with the Italian government’s promise to deploy 450 troops to guard the vulnerable area while repairs are underway. Along with protecting workers, the soldiers – led by the Praesidium Task Force of the 3rd Alpine Regiment of the Italian Army – have been training Iraq’s counterterrorism forces and have implemented initiatives to support the local hospitals, schools and families inside the small villages that make up the Mosul Dam community.

Italian army soldiers train Iraqi counterterrorism forces guarding Mosul Dam  (Fox News/Hollie McKay )

“We’ve been cooperating with the Italian taskforce with the objective of protecting the dam and the people around it,” explained Iraqi counterterrorism leader, Maj. Ahmed. “But the idea long-term is for us not only to help in a military way, but in a humanitarian way, too.”

Doctor at the local Mosul Dam village clinic receives assistance from the Italian army soldiers stationed in the area  (Fox News/Hollie McKay )

Hollie McKay has been a FoxNews.com staff reporter since 2007. She has reported extensively from the Middle East on the rise and fall of terrorist groups such as ISIS in Iraq. Follow her on twitter at @holliesmckay

 

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/01/11/exclusive-inside-iraqs-biggest-potential-weapon-mass-destruction-mosul-dam.html

[10 YEARS LATER]

On 12/12/2015 at 4:33 AM, Calijim1 said:

What the heck is wrong with these people. They have a pending disaster starring them in the face and still no plan to fix it. Isis is nothing compared to the mass destruction this will cause when it occurs.

 

It has to reach that Crisis Mode - Dam Breaks, Thousands dead and then they'll form a committee etc. It's Nuts, but they've know about this for a long time. Honestly, they live in an alternate universe: because they sure as hell don't have a firm grasp in this universe. Perhaps they think Allah will step in - who knows, huh.