Colombia remains on high alert for Ituango flood threat
Communities surrounding Colombia's US$4bn Ituango hydroelectric project remain on high alert as rain and the prospect of further landslides bring the risk of widespread flooding.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, project co-owner EPM said it is working to fill the dam quickly and block diversion tunnels that release water into the Cauca river.
Bentonite, a type of absorbent clay, is also being used to reinforce the dam's structure, EPM said.
"The risk [surrounding] the Ituango hydroelectric project remains high and three [threats] currently stand out: water flow, earth movements and dam stability," the Medellín-based multi-utility said.
"The company is working tirelessly with its specialists, contractors and panel of national and international experts to regain control of the project," the statement said.
Meanwhile President Juan Manuel Santos on Tuesday ordered the implementation of a round-the-clock Ituango monitoring station in an effort to guarantee public safety.
The initiative adheres to a recommendation by experts from the United Nations and the US army.
Some 113,000 people have been evacuated from their homes since an initial landslide on April 28, which caused the collapse of a tunnel used to regulate the dam's water flow.
The incident briefly caused the river to burst its banks, destroying bridges, medical centers, schools and dozens of houses. Around 600 people have been left homeless, according to local media reports.
Located around 170km northeast of Medellín, Hidroituango is Colombia's largest infrastructure project in investment terms. The 2.4GW facility, a joint venture between EPM and Antioquia development agency Idea, is expected to supply over 17% of Colombia's electricity when fully operational.
Officials have said the disaster will likely postpone the start of electricity generation at the plant, which had been slated for December. Experts have forecast "brutal" damage to equipment after EPM was forced to release water into the dam's turbine rooms to avoid "catastrophic" flooding.
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