A dam on the Hawaiian island of Oahu is at imminent risk of failure and thousands of residents have been ordered to evacuate. A dam on the Hawaiian island of Oahu is at imminent risk of failure and thousands of residents have been ordered to evacuate. Photo / Getty ImagesOfficials in Hawaii today ordered some 4000 people living near an ageing dam on the island of Oahu to evacuate the area immediately, following severe rains that have battered the region. The century-old Wahiawa dam, located in the north of Hawaii’s third-largest island, which is home to the state capital Honolulu, “is at imminent risk of failure”, the local emergency management agency warned. Hawaii Governor Josh Green said torrential rains have caused “serious flooding” and brought water in the reservoir to dangerous levels, prompting authorities to issue the alert.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 21, 2026 04:59 UTC