3. - usaid

NICARAGUA
~CrERIsTIcS OF THE DISm
m: Floods
DATE-TIME: August 12, 1968
LGCATIW:
Mining Fkglon, especially villages Mlstrook & El Salto
DAMAGES: Killed Haneless Evacuated Cared For by Mass Feeding
None-mT-T 1,300
mmmm m THE DISASTER
Heavy tropical rains in northeastern Nicaragua resulted In the rupture of
the El Dorado Bm on the Bambana River, near Siuna. Flcxd waters destroyed
the small village of Mlstrook and badly damaged El. Salto. Both
were located downstream from the dam, High water in the Walpasix and
Prinzapolka Rivers also damp@ hoes in the villages of Dos Bocas and
Wasaking, In addition
to destructim of
houses, at least five
bridges were destroyed
and crqland in the
flood plains of the
rivers was inundated for
a short period. Of
matest econanlc significance
was the
destruction of the El
brado Dam and hydroelectric
plant, which
supplied power to the
La Luz ppld mine at
Siuna, Due to the low
grade ID=, the owner of
the mine and hydro
plant, Falkenbridge
Nickel Campany of
Canada,, decided it would
be unecmcxnical to
rebuilt1 the dam and
power plant, Plans were
made to shut down the
mine and transfer quipmnt to the capper mine at La Rosit;a.
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