Worst disaster of 21st century looms as Iraqi dam near ISIS battlefield threatens to burst and kill as many people as NUCLEAR bomb
UK Government warns Brits in Iraq to make contingency plans for apocalyptic flooding which could kill 1.5million
FEARS are mounting that Mosul dam is about to burst and unleash a torrent of water so strong it could wipe out more than a million people.
Italian engineers are battling round the clock to save the massive dam and prevent a horrific disaster unfolding in the war torn country.
Weakening foundations are threatening to burst open the dam which was built by Saddam Hussein more than 30 years ago.
Should this happen a 11 trillion litres wall of water will surge into densely populated areas.
The facility is under tight guard amid concern ISIS jihadis could capture and sabotage it.
US army engineers fear a sudden collapse could flood Mosul, Iraq’s second biggest story, under 60 feet of water.
Iraqi government forces - backed by US air force and the RAF - are currently battling to expel ISIS from the city.
But if the dam breaks a fierce surge of water could do the job for them.
The Iraqi capital, Baghdad, could also be left 15ft under water.
In all an estimated 1.5million people could die.
British soldiers deployed in Iraq are among those in danger.
The UK Government has issued advice to any British nationals - largely oil industry engineers and aid workers - to be aware of the perilous situation.
A statement said: “The government of Iraq has begun to take measures to improve the structural integrity of the Mosul Dam as there is a risk the dam could fail.
“It is currently impossible to accurately predict if or when this might occur.
“As there’s likely to be little warning of a failure, it will be logistically impossible for the British Government to evacuate you.
“Make sure you have contingency plans in place and monitor media reporting and this travel advice.”
Work on repairing the dam has been affected by mismanagement and corruption while vital time was lost when the dam and its surrounds fell under the control of ISIS in 2014.
The terror group left the facility damaged.
Kurdish forces took back control of areas of Makhmur, in northern Iraq from the crazed militants with the aid of US airstrikes in August.
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