Dam fails, drains lake of NC town

HOPE MILLS, N.C. (AP) - Officials are trying to determine why a dam failed in a North Carolina town, draining its centerpiece lake.

The Fayetteville Observer reported Hope Mills Lake drained Thursday after officials began investigating why it had turbid water, which was cloudy and may have soil in it.

The town had gotten permission last year to put water in the lake again after an 80-year-old earthen dam had collapsed in 2003. The town built a new dam and spillway before collecting water in the lake again.

Inspectors had released water Wednesday to investigate the turbid water. The water picked up speed and the lake disappeared. Two holes were visible on the lake side of the dam.

State and local officials and private engineers spent much of Thursday inspecting the dam and planned to review the information Friday.