A local MP of communities downstream of a gold mine tailings dam in Solomon Islands says thousands of people are living in fear of their lives.
Martin Sopage, who represents North Guadalcanal, says the dam - which belongs to the Gold Ridge mine on Guadalcanal - is being built higher to accommodate an increasing amount of water.
He says between four and five thousand people live downstream and there are other coastal communities that would also be affected if the dam failed.
"The dam is continuing to rise and the construction is continuing to build up and the water is continuing to build up so we can't think this is safe for us at the downstream. So there's a very risk for us in the community there."
Martin Sopage says the communities concerned want the mining company to discharge some of the water being held in the dam.
