Ethiopia flood misery mounts as rains threaten dams

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - Ethiopia braced for more damage from deadly nationwide flash floods as the government warned unusually heavy seasonal rains could force the release of water from dangerously swollen dams.

A task force set up to deal with flooding crises that have affected nearly 75,000 people said three dams in the west, south and north of the country were close to the breaking point and advised residents in their vicinities to leave.

Although controlled, it said the release of water from the threatened dams on the Omo, Awash and Blue Nile rivers could compound devastation from floods that have already killed at least 626 people in the south, east and north.