¿Major Santiago Problem?

[Hipocrito Mejia]

Originally Posted by SantiagoDR

To me it was totally irresponsible to do such a thing of opening the dam gates during the night.
Those responsible should be put away.[/IMG]

In a tv interview this morning, the chief of INDRHI, who is the government agency responsible for managing the dam stated that the dam was at a water level of 324.11 meters, that the limit for safe operation of the dam is 316 meters, and that the maximum capacity of the dam before it overflows is 326 meters. Considering the consequences of a breach or an overflow, how was it irresponsible to conduct a controlled release from the dam?

[LatinoRican]

To open a dam's floodgates in the middle of the night, without warning and when people are sleeping is a criminal act. Even if the intention was to avoid the dam from bursting, the authorities should have sounded some type of alarm before doing what they did!

[Dolores]

What I am hearing is that with the technology that is available today, the INDRHI people should have see it coming and taken action earlier.

[M.A.R.]

Originally Posted by Hipocrito Mejia

In a tv interview this morning, the chief of INDRHI, who is the government agency responsible for managing the dam stated that the dam was at a water level of 324.11 meters, that the limit for safe operation of the dam is 316 meters, and that the maximum capacity of the dam before it overflows is 326 meters. Considering the consequences of a breach or an overflow, how was it irresponsible to conduct a controlled release from the dam?

They should have known earlier like when it was 320 meters, some kind of alarm should warm them, something.......and of course they should have warned the people near the river, but of course, do they care, the authorities have their houses in the cerros, up high away from the river, it wouldn't touch them. arghghgh

[Hipocrito Mejia]

Has anyone seen how fast the water level can rise at that dam or what happens when it overflows? Maybe you should see the destruction in that area from hurricane David in 1978 before you pass judgement on what was done yesterday.

[M.A.R.]

Originally Posted by Hipocrito Mejia

Has anyone seen how fast the water level can rise at that dam or what happens when it overflows? Maybe you should see the destruction in that area from hurricane David in 1978 before you pass judgement on what was done yesterday.

ok whatever, I don't live there, you are right, Ihave no idea what goes on down there anyway. Unfortunatly the poor people are the ones who suffer all these tragedies because they don't have choices.

[MrMike]

To varying degrees, this happens pretty much every year. But people still live down there. Yeah its tragic but its not the first time. Or the second time. Or the third time.

It is certainly not the last time either.

[Hipocrito Mejia]

M.A.R., I don't want to sound cold, but my family is originally from within a few kilometers from there, so I've seen and heard the stories throughout my entire life.

There are many people to blame for what happens in that area everytime that there's a major rainfall, but the people that manage the dam are certainly not at the top of the list.

[MommC]

Originally Posted by Hipocrito Mejia

In a tv interview this morning, the chief of INDRHI, who is the government agency responsible for managing the dam stated that the dam was at a water level of 324.11 meters, that the limit for safe operation of the dam is 316 meters, and that the maximum capacity of the dam before it overflows is 326 meters. Considering the consequences of a breach or an overflow, how was it irresponsible to conduct a controlled release from the dam?

Had the authorities been monitoring the situation they would have started to draw down the reservoir on Sunday given the amount of predicted rainfall. A slow release of water would not have caused flooding, would have allowed people time to evacuate with their belongings in the event that a larger release was necessary, and would have taken place during daylight hours instead of in the middle of the night when everyone was asleep!!

gre:

[BushBaby]

Originally Posted by Hipocrito Mejia

In a tv interview this morning, the chief of INDRHI, who is the government agency responsible for managing the dam stated that the dam was at a water level of 324.11 meters, that the limit for safe operation of the dam is 316 meters, and that the maximum capacity of the dam before it overflows is 326 meters. Considering the consequences of a breach or an overflow, how was it irresponsible to conduct a controlled release from the dam?

Do we know if any supplementary questions were asked & answered? For instance:
"IF the safe operating level of the Dam is 316 meters, how is it possible that you wait until the level reaches 324.11 meters before taking action? A rise of EIGHT meters above the SAFE operational level"????
"How fast WAS the level rising & from what level was it being monitored closely (like evey 10 minutes)"?
"If you know that the level was rising at 1 meter per hour, why was no action taken when the level reached 310 meters"?
"Who was on duty that afternoon & where are his reports/warnings to his superiors"?

Sorry Hipocrito Mejia - I accept that many 'Higher Ups' may have made the final decisions & that instructions may have come from them NOT to open the Dam earlier, but RESPONSIBILITY is responsibility & the dangers SHOULD have been made public earlier if there was a loss of life scenario about to be played out! ~ Grahame.