Homeowners warned of flood risk as lake starts to break through ice dam

Locals have been warned of the risk of flooding from snowmelt water released by the Mendenhall glacier (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

A huge basin of rainwater and snowmelt dammed by Alaska’s Mendenhall glacier has started to release, and officials on Tuesday urged residents in some parts of Juneau to evacuate ahead of what could be a record surge of floodwater downstream.

Officials in recent days have been warning people in the flood zone to be ready to evacuate.