Watch: House falls into river after Rapidan Dam partial failure

The river consumed a historic house near the dam
There were no injuruies and the home had been evacuated
Tens of thousands of residents are in the 21 cities in the river's path

Updated: Jun 26, 2024 / 12:47 PM CDT

(NewsNation) — A home was lost to the Blue Earth River Tuesday night when an abutment of Minnesota’s Rapidan Dam partially failed.

Video footage captured the house hanging over the eroding edge of the river near the dam before a main portion of the property tipped into the water roof first.

Officials told NewsNation there were no injuries and the home had been evacuated since Sunday night.

“A portion of the house on the property closest to the Rapidan Dam has been undercut enough to have fallen into the river. Blue Earth County Public Works, Emergency Management and Sheriff’s Office are monitoring for downstream impacts,” the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.

The house belongs to a local family who operated a store along the dam for decades, Minnesota newspaper Star Tribune reported.

A woman who grew up in the home told the newspaper she heard explosions early Monday while making pies in the store and the water consumed a nearby electrical substation.