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Arizona flash flood: Nine dead as deluge hits swimmers | Arizona flash flood: Nine dead as deluge hits swimmers |
(about 7 hours later) | |
At least nine people from one family have been killed in flash floods after monsoon-like rains swept through a swimming hole in the US state of Arizona, local media say. | |
A 27-year-old man whose wife perished is also missing. | |
More than 100 people were bathing in the area when the floodwater hit with almost no warning. | |
The flash flood struck at Cold Springs, near Payson, on Saturday, sweeping people down East Verde River. | |
Search and rescue crews have recovered the bodies of nine victims, some of whom were found up to two miles down the river. | |
Four others - a married couple and their two young children - were rescued by helicopter crews and treated for hypothermia. | |
Dozens were bathing in the Tonto National Forest, about 90m (145km) north of Phoenix, when the floodwaters hit following a torrential downpour upstream, said Sgt David Hornung from the Gila County sheriff's office. | |
"A large family group was down by the river recreating... It's a recreation area that a lot of people come up to - and the flash flood came through and washed 14 people away from the camp," Sgt Hornung said. | "A large family group was down by the river recreating... It's a recreation area that a lot of people come up to - and the flash flood came through and washed 14 people away from the camp," Sgt Hornung said. |
"I've been with the Sheriff's office for 13 years and this is the most severe flooding incident we've ever seen," he added. | "I've been with the Sheriff's office for 13 years and this is the most severe flooding incident we've ever seen," he added. |
Video footage posted on social media showed muddy floodwater gushing over rocks and through deep canyons. | |
The Payson Fire Department said that multiple forest fires in recent months had created piles of debris that burst down a creek and through the swimming hole. | The Payson Fire Department said that multiple forest fires in recent months had created piles of debris that burst down a creek and through the swimming hole. |
However, it had not been raining in the area where people were swimming. | However, it had not been raining in the area where people were swimming. |
Officials have not identified the dead, but relatives told The Arizona Republic that 14 of their extended family were hit by the flood. | |
They named one of the victims as Maria Raya, 25, who died a day before her birthday along with her children - Emily, 3, Mia, 5, and Hector Daniel, 7. | |
Her sister Maribel Raya, 24, and brother Javier Raya, 14, perished, they said. | |
Maribel's daughter Erika Raya, aged 2, is believed to have been lost. | |
Selia Garcia, the mother of Maria, Maribel and Javier, was named as dead, as was her grandson Jonathan Leon, 13. | |
All nine were from Phoenix, Arizona. | |
Maria's husband Hector Miguel Garnica is yet to be located, and is feared to have died alongside his family. | |
His sister Carla Garnica, 22, was quoted as saying: "He has to be found. He's always said, 'I'm never leaving my children or my wife.' He has to complete his promise." | |
The Gila County Sheriff's Office said relatives of the missing family drove to the area to search for them into the early hours of Sunday. | |
Maria Mandujano, a cousin of the Raya siblings, said the searchers waded through knee-deep water shouting her loved ones' names. | |
They found one of the children's bodies amid the debris, she said. | |
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood alert for much of Arizona until Monday evening, with more storms expected in the middle of next week. | The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood alert for much of Arizona until Monday evening, with more storms expected in the middle of next week. |