Water spilling out of Minnesota’s Rapidan Dam, which partially collapsed after heavy rains over the weekend, eroded enough soil along the bank to cause a nearby home to collapse into the river, authorities said Tuesday night.
Blue Earth County officials said the home, which was located on the bank of the Blue Earth River adjacent to the dam, collapsed over the edge of an eroding cliff about 9:45 p.m.
Video taken by a passerby from the opposite bank showed large parts of the house collapsing into the roaring river, and moments later, a huge tree was seen falling into the water as well.
The house had already been evacuated at the time of the collapse. FOX9 Minneapolis report.
Residents take precautions as Minnesota dam nears collapse
Officials said the Blue Earth County Department of Public Works, the Office of Emergency Management and the Sheriff’s Office are monitoring the impact of the collapse downstream.
Rapidan Dam is located about 14 miles south of Mankato in southern Minnesota.
of The dam partially collapsed Heavy rains over the weekend caused water to not pass through the dam’s gates, but instead go around the west side of the structure.
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Officials said Wednesday morning that there had been a “dramatic change” overnight as the channel flowing out of the dam’s west side “continued to reduce in width and depth,” eroding soil along the riverbank.
Officials said they were monitoring the impacts downstream. (AW aerial photo)
“Currently, very little water is passing through the dam’s floodgates, with the majority of the water circulating around the west side of the dam,” the official said.
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Officials said recent erosion has shifted focus from the dam to a nearby bridge, where the speed of flowing water continues to hinder emergency mitigation efforts.
