The Zeyzoun Dam is a
failed embankment dam
An embankment dam is a large artificial dam. It is typically created by the placement and compaction of a complex semi-plastic mound of various compositions of soil or rock. It has a semi-pervious waterproof natural covering for its surface and ...
near
Zayzun
Zayzun ( ar, زيزون) is a Syrian village located in Al-Ziyarah Nahiyah in Al-Suqaylabiyah District, Hama. According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Zayzun had a population of 1944 in the 2004 census.
See also
*Zeyzoun D ...
,
Hama Governorate
Hama Governorate ( ar, مُحافظة حماة / ALA-LC: ''Muḥāfaẓat Ḥamā'') is one of the 14 Governorates of Syria, governorates of Syria. It is situated in western-central Syria, bordering Idlib Governorate, Idlib and Aleppo Governorates ...
, Syria. It impounded water pumped from the nearby
Orontes River
The Orontes (; from Ancient Greek , ) or Asi ( ar, العاصي, , ; tr, Asi) is a river with a length of in Western Asia that begins in Lebanon, flowing northwards through Syria before entering the Mediterranean Sea near Samandağ in Turkey.
...
. The dam was completed in 1996 and its primary purpose was the irrigation of about . The dam's reservoir was filled in the winter and expended its water during the summer.
The dam failed on 4 June 2002, killing 27 people, displacing 2,000 and directly affecting over 10,000. Hours before the dam failed, in the afternoon, cracks were noticed in the embankment. People were evacuated as water began to pour through the cracks. The water eventually breached an wide hole in the dam which released a tall wave of water. The water engulfed , destroying 251 homes and damaging hundreds of others. Several International organizations,
non-government organization
A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...
s and nations sent aid.
[ Reportedly, Syrian officials had ignored warnings that the dam was in need of serious repair.]
See also
*Dam failure
A dam failure or dam burst is a catastrophic type of structural failure characterized by the sudden, rapid, and uncontrolled release of impounded water or the likelihood of such an uncontrolled release. Between the years 2000 and 2009 more than ...
References
{{reflist
2002 disasters in Syria
Dams in Syria
Dam failures
2002 industrial disasters
Dams completed in 1996
Buildings and structures in Hama Governorate
Al-Ghab Plain
2002 in Syria