The plant’s 6.8B litre, 20ha reservoir was ruptured in the northwest corner, causing water to flow into Reynolds County and resulting in the closure of the Route N road.
According to reports, at least two homes and several vehicles were swept away by the waters. A family of five has been rescued, and three children were injured. All 12 members of staff at the plant have been accounted for.
A team has been assembled to investigate the reason for the failure, said AmerenUE, the owners of the plant.
Built in 1963, Taum Sauk is a pumped storage plant, storing water from the Black river in its reservoir on the 484m Proffit mountain.
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