US warns of Mosul Dam collapse in North Iraq

The US warned its citizens to be ready to leave Iraq in the event of what it has said could be a catastrophic collapse of the country’s largest hydro-electric dam near Mosul.

Iraqi officials have sought to play down the risk, but Washington urged citizens to make contingency plans.

A US security message cited estimates that Mosul, which is under control of Islamic State (IS) insurgents, could be inundated by as much as 70ft of water within hours of the breach.