Dam on river in Mississippi at risk of failing

A rain-swollen lake in rural north Mississippi rose at least a foot (metre) overnight, amid forecasts of additional downpours, keeping heavy pressure on a dam on Wednesday that officials said was in danger of failing.

An inspection of the earthen dam at Oktibbeha County on Tuesday led to warnings that it was in danger of failing and recommendations that area residents evacuate.

With as much as 5 inches (12.7 centimeters) of rain forecast by the weekend, workers were monitoring a soggy landslide that stoked the fears.

Oktibbeha County's emergency director, Kristen Campanella, said the lake level had risen a foot overnight, endangering about 130 properties and nine highways downstream.

Mississippi has one of the highest numbers of dams that pose dangers and are in poor or unsatisfactory condition, according to a two-year investigation by The Associated Press.

Evacuation was not mandatory but was recommended, Campanella said.

She said as many as 25 residents have told law enforcement officials they would consider evacuating if conditions worsen.

The dam is an earthen structure with a two-lane road atop it, and traffic was still being allowed to cross.

The dirt road shoulders were squishy with mud in places.