Lynchburg Dam Failure Threat Prompts Evacuations

A dam failure threatening Lynchburg after a deluge of rain in Virginia has prompted evacuations.

The National Weather Service said up to six inches of rain fell within hours, filling College Lake near Lynchburg beyond capacity.

The weather service said a failure of the College Lake Dam could flood parts of Lynchburg with 17 feet of water in just seven minutes.

County officials reported the dam's "imminent failure" at around 9:30 p.m. They were still looking for signs of structural failure early Friday as water spilling over the dam, threatening about 124 houses in the city of 80,000.

Local fire and police were sending boats to rescue people to area shelters. A flash flood watch was in effect until 11 a.m.