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National Guard Helps Dam Columbia Canal Breach

South Carolina officials were working on Wednesday, October 7, to stem the rapid flow of water in the Columbia Canal with a temporary boulder dam, while national guardsmen were plugging a 60-foot gash in the dike with one-ton sandbags. The quick flowing water slowed progress on the dam, but guardsmen had about half the sandbags that will be needed to fix the breach in place, local media said.

The canal dike breached early Monday morning when the Broad River broke through.

The canal’s water feeds Columbia’s water treatment plant downstream, providing water to thousands of customers. In addition to the problems at the canal, several leaks have been found in pipes, and the city is under a boil water advisory. Credit: South Carolina National Guard