Video: Barges At Dam Draw In Large Crowd

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – After four days, two barges are still up against the John C. Stennis Lock and Dam.

The barges apparently broke away from their tow, after heavy rains and wind hit North Mississippi.

One of the barges has begun to sink, while the other sits on top of it.

So far, it hasn’t caused any environmental problems and we won’t know the extent of the damage to the dam until the barges are moved.

Right now, it’s one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Friendly City.

Dozens of people are visiting the lock and dam to marvel at a sight rarely seen.

“We’re just coming to see what everybody is talking about. It’s just crazy what it looks like, I’ve never seen anything like it before.” said Hannah Perrigin.

Perrigin brought her little brother out to see the sight that’s causing the most talk around town.

“Yes, all over Facebook and you just see a bunch of pictures and you want to come out here and see it for yourself,” added Perrigin.

“I just couldn’t believe that it sunk underneath the other one and that it weighs over 500 thousand pounds,” said Nick Perrigin.

Families are also among the dozens of spectators.

Some even brought their cameras to snap quick pictures.

“Really I’m kind of just sight-seeing, just looking around here. It looks a mess to me out here. Have you ever seen anything like this? No I haven’t,” says spectator, Walter Jones.

Right now, it’s a waiting game to see when the water will drop enough to move the barges.

“Whenever I came out here, I was just kind of like blown away and then whenever I heard that bottom one over there on the bottom is filled with soybeans, I just thought that somebody just lost a lot of money, and somebody is probably going to get fired or whatever,” says Tim Nichols, another onlooker.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Manager tells WCBI they hope the water will lower enough over the weekend to move the barges so they can begin to determine what damage has been done to the dam.

 

Categories: Local News

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