Oroville Dam pictures: The most DEVASTATING photos of the spillway damage and evacuations
AS tens of thousands of evacuees start to return home, here are some of the most dramatic photos of Oroville Dam.
Nearly 200,000 people living south of America’s tallest dam were told to leave their homes on Sunday afternoon after a hole developed in the emergency spillway.
The evacuees have now been allowed to return home after the mandatory evacuation order was downgraded to an evacuation warning near the dam at Oroville Lake.
There were fears that the collapse of overflow channel would unleash a roughly 30 ft wall of water into Feather River before hitting towns downstream.
The torrent of rushing water could have smashed into the city of Oroville and other communities in the evacuation zone.
These photographs show the damage to the spillway, the power of the rushing water and people left stranded in evacuation centres.
Photographs of Oroville Dam and evacuees at Neighborhood Church of Chico
A rainbow is made by spray from water coming down the damaged main spillway on February 14
Erosion just below the Lake Oroville emergency spillway site
Water from the spillway erodes the roadway on Sunday February 12
The damaged spillway with eroded hillside is seen in an aerial photo
Water flows through a damaged spillway on the Oroville Dam
Damage to the spillway at Oroville Dam in California
Water cascades into the Feather River from the damaged Oroville Dam spillway
Evacuation order given after Oroville dam expected to fail
California Department of Water Resources personnel monitor water flowing through the spillway
Evacuee George Moody at the main sanctuary of the Neighborhood Church of Chico
A few more amazing photos of #orvilledam and our officers assisting to share with our community #sacpd pic.twitter.com/Cm0g4CvPDS
— Sacramento Police (@SacPolice) February 15, 2017
Current images of the #OrovilleDam from @CHP_Valley Air Operations' H24, which is providing law enforcement support. @Cal_OES @CaltransHQ pic.twitter.com/D0Cg66DM5Q
— Commissioner Farrow (@CHPCommissioner) February 13, 2017
A view from Chopper 5 over the #OrovilleDam Monday morning. Latest: https://t.co/5k0hUgTvpD pic.twitter.com/tHskw5na8X
— KCBS 106.9 FM/740 AM (@KCBSNews) February 13, 2017
Oroville Dam current outflow 100K cfs, water level dropping +4ft since releases increased yesterday. Update planned for 12pm @kcranews pic.twitter.com/UrnPztccqK
— Vicki Gonzalez (@KCRAVicki) February 13, 2017