Africa’s Kariba Dam in danger of collapse

Work is underway to repair the Kariba Dam between Zambia and Zimbabwe, which is at risk of collapse due to eroding foundations

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Dam

Vital bridge

French engineering firm Razel-Bec working against clock to repair swelling wall around spillway and reshape plunge pool. Work expected to take five years and cost $294 million

24m thick

128m

Lake Kariba

Dam wall

Spillway

Built: 1955-59

Pounding water from spillway has carved plunge pool deeper, threatening integrity of dam wall foundations


AFRICA 

Victoria Falls

MAIN MAP

90°


Lake Kariba

World’s largest man-made reservoir

Length: 280km*

Width: 32km

Surface area: 5,400km2

Volume: 181 billion m3


Kariba Dam

ZAMBIA

Mana Pools National Park

Zambia National Park

Collapse of dam would put over 3.5 million people along Zambezi River at risk

Zumbo Population: 33,000

ZIMBABWE

Cahora Bassa Lake

Cahora Bassa Dam

Songo

Tete Pop: 220,000

Moatize Pop: 40,000

Zambezi River

MOZAMBIQUE

Vila de Sena

Caia

Nsanje District Pop: 200,000

MALAWI

Indian Ocean

Chinde Pop: 20,000

100km 60 miles



Sources: AFDB, AON, Razel-Bec, wire agencies 

*when at highest level 

© GRAPHIC NEWS