Heavy rains have prompted widespread evacuations on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii, as the state experiences its worst flooding in two decades. The Department of Emergency Management issued dire warnings for communities like Waialua, with evacuation orders affecting nearly 5,500 people in the region north of Honolulu. Officials emphasized that remaining access roads are at high risk of failure if rainfall continues, urging residents to leave immediately.

No deaths have been reported so far, but at least 200 people have been rescued from muddy floodwaters, and ten have been hospitalized with hypothermia. A youth camp run by Our Lady of Kea'au was also evacuated, with 72 adults and children airlifted as a precaution. Governor Josh Green estimated that damage could exceed $1 billion and described floodwaters in some areas as "chest-level," mobilizing the Hawaii National Guard and military reserves for emergency efforts.

Of particular concern is the 120-year-old Wahiawa dam, which officials warned is "at risk of imminent failure." A 2022 document from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources identified the dam as having "a high hazard potential," meaning a failure could result in probable loss of human life. Built in 1906 and reconstructed after a 1921 collapse, the dam was acquired by Dole Food Company, which has received four notices since 2009 about its deficiencies.

In April 2021, Dole was fined $20,000 for failing to safely maintain the dam and its spillway, though company representatives refuted assessments that it might not handle flooding safely. Hawaii passed a law in 2023 to acquire the dam, but the transfer is not yet complete. On Friday, water levels at the earthen dam rose to 25.6 meters, just 1.8 meters below capacity. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi estimated that hundreds of homes have been affected, with the full damage scope unassessed, and Oahu is expected to receive an additional 15-20 cm of rain in the coming days.

Source: www.aljazeera.com