The dark, corrupted water surged through the opened floodgates with the deafening roar of a collapsing mountain.
Black foam crested over the canal walls as millions of gallons of pressurized runoff poured into the lower residential basin.
"The surge pressure is exceeding four hundred thousand cubic feet per second!" Diana yelled, her voice nearly swallowed by the roar of the rushing torrent.
"The lower retaining walls will be completely obliterated within forty-five seconds!"
"Look at the service platform on the lower tier—there are thirty-seven maintenance workers trapped by the rising water!" Jax shouted, pointing down at the catwalk.
"The metal stairs have already been torn away by the initial wave!"
"They cannot climb the concrete slope in time to escape the flood!" Ava called out, her hands gripping the railing in alarm.
"If the main retaining wall breaks, the entire lower district will be submerged in toxic runoff!"
