The Zeyzoun Dam is a failed

embankment dam An embankment dam is a large artificial dam. It is typically created by the placement and compaction of a complex semi-plastic mound of various compositions of soil or rock. It has a semi-pervious waterproof natural covering for its surface ...

near Zayzun,

Hama Governorate Hama Governorate ( / ALA-LC: ''Muḥāfaẓat Ḥamā'') is one of the 14 Governorates of Syria, governorates of Syria. It is situated in western-central Syria, bordering Idlib Governorate, Idlib and Aleppo Governorates to the north, Raqqa Gove ...

, Syria. It impounded water pumped from the nearby

Orontes River The Orontes (; from Ancient Greek , ) or Nahr al-ʿĀṣī, or simply Asi (, ; ) is a long river in Western Asia that begins in Lebanon, flowing northwards through Syria before entering the Mediterranean Sea near Samandağ in Hatay Province, Turk ...

, which has been used for irrigation of the surrounding countryside for centuries. The dam was completed in 1996 and its primary purpose was the irrigation of about . The dam's reservoir was filled in the winter and expended its water during the summer. The dam failed on 4 June 2002, causing widespread damage, killing 27 people, displacing 2,000 and directly affecting over 10,000. Hours before the dam failed, in the afternoon, cracks were noticed in the embankment. People were evacuated as water began to pour through the cracks. The water eventually breached an wide hole in the dam which released a high wave of water. The water engulfed , destroying 251 homes and damaging hundreds of others. Several international organizations,

non-government organization A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an independent, typically nonprofit organization that operates outside government control, though it may get a significant percentage of its funding from government or corporate sources. NGOs often focus ...

s and nations sent aid. Reportedly, Syrian officials had ignored warnings that the dam was in need of serious repair.

References

{{Authority control 2002 disasters in Syria Dams in Syria Dam failures in Asia 2002 industrial disasters Dams completed in 1996 Buildings and structures in Hama Governorate Al-Ghab Plain 2002 in Syria

See also

References