Rubberized dam breaks at man-made Arizona lake

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - A rubberized dam at the end of a man-made lake near Phoenix collapsed Tuesday night, sending thousands of gallons of water gushing downstream into the normally dry Salt River bed.

The 16-foot-high section of the dam on Tempe Town Lake sent waves at water at an estimated 40,000 cfs pouring forth.

"All of a sudden, we heard this ka-boom and the ground started shaking," said 13-year-old Lukas Henderson, who was biking on the northside of the lake with his sister and father.

There were no immediate reports of any injuries and authorities said no structures were in immediate danger. Authorities were trying to locate transients who use the river bottom as homes and get them to safety, Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman said at a news conference.

Tempe police and fire department crews were also evacuating the area around the 2-mile-long lake, which sits at the base of Arizona State University's "A" Mountain and is often used for fishing and boating.

Philip Kanemeyer of Tempe said the sound of the explosion was so loud that he ducked. The 23-year-old said he saw pieces of the dam flying 10 feet into the air.

There was no immediate word on what may have caused the collapse. The lake has four inflatable dams on both ends and the dam sections were supposed to last for 25 to 30 years.

However, Tempe officials determined in 2007 that Arizona's harsh sun and dry climate was taking a toll on the rubber dams and might have to be replaced in a few years. The city inspects the dams about once a month and repaired two tears in 2002.