When sudden flash-floods occurred in a river valley in a central Asian country,  the flood wave reached a dam constructed just recently to collect and divert water from the river to an agricultural development project. Trees and other debris flooding in the water were carried over the top of the dam and prevented the opening of the not yet completely functional floodgates.

A village was located on rather loose ground close to one end of the dam. More than 200 people died, when the water took its way around the dam, washing away the village within minutes.