Florida faces catastrophic flood from phosphate mine pond

Hundreds of residents in Manatee County, Florida, have been relocated after authorities asked them to “Evacuate NOW” over the imminent collapse of a 20ft wall of toxic wastewater.

Workers have been rushing to pump gallons of wastewater from the pond near the old phosphate mine reservoir at Piney Point to reduce the chances of a full-fledged breach.

“What we’re looking at now is trying to prevent and respond to, if need be, a real catastrophic flood situation,” Governor Ron DeSantis said at news conference on Sunday.

Efforts have been made to control the water leak since March. But authorities jumped to greater action and escalated the threat level on Friday when a “significant leak” was detected and the governor declared a state of emergency for three counties.