Dam in Southern Piauí Is Under Extreme Alert for Risk of Breach, Says Civil Defense
The Barra do Campestre dam in Coronel José Dias, Southern Piauí, is under an extreme alert due to the risk of breach, with the Civil Defense assuring the situation remains under control.
The Barra do Campestre dam, located in Coronel José Dias in Southern Piauí, Brazil, is currently under an extreme alert due to the risk of a breach, according to the state's Civil Defense. The agency has proactively issued SMS alerts and activated a sound signal to warn residents in nearby communities about the potential danger. Although the risk is serious, officials stated that the situation is under control, aiming to ensure public safety as a priority.
To reinforce safety measures, machinery from the Coronel José Dias municipality has been deployed to the dam site. The local government is responding to the alert and is awaiting further communication with the G1 news outlet regarding additional mitigation actions being undertaken. The Civil Defense's director for Prevention and Mitigation, Werton Costa, emphasized that the alert is preventative and serves as a warning for communities located downstream of the dam, highlighting the need for vigilance in the face of potential flooding or structural failure.
Additionally, the region has been experiencing heavy rainfall since February 26, leading to widespread flooding and transportation challenges for residents. This environmental context raises concerns about the dam's structural integrity and the broader implications for community safety, as well as the urgent need for evaluations by specialized teams, such as the one sent by the Piauí Development Institute (Idepi), which will assess the current situation of the dam on Monday.