Fears of dam collapse in Iraq spurs emergency plan by military

By David Wroe
Updated February 11 2016 - 8:08am, first published February 10 2016 - 8:55pm
Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin  says the collapse of the Mosul Dam would be a humanitarian disaster.  Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin says the collapse of the Mosul Dam would be a humanitarian disaster. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
A Kurdish peshmerga fighter prepares his weapon at his combat position near the Mosul Dam. Photo: Khalid Mohammed/AP
A Kurdish peshmerga fighter prepares his weapon at his combat position near the Mosul Dam. Photo: Khalid Mohammed/AP

The threat of a collapsing dam in Iraq that could send water flooding over millions of people has forced Australia's military to make emergency plans to protect soldiers and diplomats.