dam breach
Water wall rupture
A dam breach is the failure of a dam structure, allowing water to escape uncontrollably.
The breach may be sudden and catastrophic or gradual, but either way releases the reservoir behind it.
Emergency sirens warned of an imminent dam breach.
The term applies both to the event and the resulting gap in the structure.
- structural failureLoss of load-bearing capacity
- floodOverwhelming water overflow
- flash floodRapid overflow from storms
- collapseSudden structural failure
- failureLack of success
water · surge · levee · reservoir · overflow · rupture · torrent · rushing water · disaster · deluge · inundation · crack · burst · broken levee · spillway · erosion · catastrophe · evacuation
- breachesrupture, violation, intrusion, break, infringement
- infrastructure failuresbridge collapse, potholes, power outage, water main breaks, water main break
- tailingsimpoundment, slurry, seepage, leachate, dewatering
- water emergenciesdrowning, near drowning, near-drowning, water rescue, ocean rescue
- submersionsubmersion, submerging, immersion, total immersion, going under