Bahia State Government Belatedly Confirms Dam Ruptured

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The government of Bahia confirmed the collapse of the Quati dam, in the town of Pedro Alexandre, on Friday morning, July 12th.

The State Government explained, through a note, that initially there was an overflow of the dam, cracking the sides. However, the water pressure eventually caused the partial rupture of the structure. A new survey will be carried out this Friday afternoon to ascertain the extent of the damage and the condition of dams neighboring Quati.

The water flooded Pedro Alexandre and the neighboring town of Coronel João Sá. The town of Coronel João Sá was the one most affected by the flood, as it is at a lower altitude than Pedro Alexandre. Some 500 people are displaced.

The heavy rainfall in the region increased the volume of water in the Rio do Peixe, which flows into the dam. The river course between the towns of Pedro Alexandre and Coronel João Sá is approximately eighty km long.

There were no reports of injuries or missing persons in either town.

The Quati dam was built by the Companhia de Desenvolvimento e Ação Regional (CAR) and awarded in November 2000 to the Residents’ Community Association of the district. It dams the Rio do Peixe for the dry season.