Thousands evacuated amid West Texas flooding fears

HOUSTON, Aug 4 (Reuters) About 2,000 people were evacuated from their homes in the west Texas border city of El Paso yeterday due to fears a nearby dam in Mexico might burst and cause flooding, a city spokeswoman said today.

El Paso has received more than seven inches (18 cm) of rain since Tuesday and is still under a flash flood warning.

The rain has put pressure on the earthen La Montada Dam, which cannot withstand further heavy rains, officials from Juarez, Mexico told the El Paso Times newspaper.

If the dam ruptures, it could flood neighborhoods in south El Paso and north Juarez, two cities separated by the Rio Grande River, El Paso spokeswoman Juliet Lozano said.

About a quarter of the evacuees were housed at El Paso's convention center, Lozano said. The other 1,500 were staying with relatives in the area.

Until the downpours began, El Paso was drought-stricken, with only an inch (2.5 cm) of rain recorded for the year through Monday.

Reuters VJ GC0223