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Second Yosemite Rockfall in Two Days Injures One at El Capitan Second Yosemite Rockfall in Two Days Injures One at El Capitan
(about 1 hour later)
A chunk of rock broke off the face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park on Thursday afternoon, injuring at least one person a day after a massive slab fell from the towering monolith and killed a tourist, park officials said.A chunk of rock broke off the face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park on Thursday afternoon, injuring at least one person a day after a massive slab fell from the towering monolith and killed a tourist, park officials said.
The rockfall on Thursday occurred at about 3:40 p.m. on the same part of El Capitan that collapsed the day before. It is on the eastern edge near a popular trek for rock climbers known as the Waterfall Route. The rockfall, which sent a dust cloud into the air that covered cars on the road beneath it, occurred about 3:40 p.m. on the same part of El Capitan that collapsed the day before. It is on the eastern edge near a popular trek for rock climbers known as the Waterfall Route.
Search-and-rescue crews were checking around the site in a helicopter for other possible victims, said Scott Gediman, a park spokesman.Search-and-rescue crews were checking around the site in a helicopter for other possible victims, said Scott Gediman, a park spokesman.
“We are flying in an air ambulance,” Mr. Gediman said, adding that a geologist was being brought in to inspect the site. “We are flying in an air ambulance,” Mr. Gediman said Thursday afternoon, adding that a geologist was being brought in to inspect the site. Traffic was being rerouted away from El Capitan.
Mr. Gediman said initial reports from people who saw Thursday’s rockfall indicated that it was larger than the one on Wednesday afternoon, when a 1,300-ton chunk broke away. That rock, which measured 130 feet tall and 65 feet wide, struck a British couple, killing a man and injuring a woman. The woman sustained serious injuries, the park said, and was taken by air ambulance to a hospital. Their names have not been released.Mr. Gediman said initial reports from people who saw Thursday’s rockfall indicated that it was larger than the one on Wednesday afternoon, when a 1,300-ton chunk broke away. That rock, which measured 130 feet tall and 65 feet wide, struck a British couple, killing a man and injuring a woman. The woman sustained serious injuries, the park said, and was taken by air ambulance to a hospital. Their names have not been released.
Joseph Moring said he was taking photos along the base of El Capitan on Thursday afternoon when he heard a crashing sound high above. He immediately started recording video and captured the tumbling cloud of smoke and rock as it crashed down the wall, slamming to the ground about 600 feet in front of him.Joseph Moring said he was taking photos along the base of El Capitan on Thursday afternoon when he heard a crashing sound high above. He immediately started recording video and captured the tumbling cloud of smoke and rock as it crashed down the wall, slamming to the ground about 600 feet in front of him.
The dust cloud rose into the air and covered cars on the road beneath El Capitan, he said. Mr. Moring, who was visiting Yosemite with his wife from their home outside London, said he ran back to the car to check on his wife, who stayed there while he took photos. Mr. Moring, who was visiting Yosemite with his wife from their home outside London, said he ran back to the car to check on his wife, who stayed there while he took photos.
“She said she felt the car shake like it was an earthquake,” he said. “I’m literally shook up.”“She said she felt the car shake like it was an earthquake,” he said. “I’m literally shook up.”
Yosemite averages more than 80 rockfalls a year, with many more that go unnoticed. Injuries from rockfalls are rare.Yosemite averages more than 80 rockfalls a year, with many more that go unnoticed. Injuries from rockfalls are rare.
But El Capitan, which is about 3,000 feet tall, is one of the top destinations within the park — especially for adventurous rock climbers — making a rockfall there more likely to strike someone.But El Capitan, which is about 3,000 feet tall, is one of the top destinations within the park — especially for adventurous rock climbers — making a rockfall there more likely to strike someone.
“The fact they are happening now is not unusual,” Mr. Gediman said about the rockfalls. “It’s just in an area with a lot of climbers.”“The fact they are happening now is not unusual,” Mr. Gediman said about the rockfalls. “It’s just in an area with a lot of climbers.”
A 2013 report prepared by the United States Geological Survey and the National Park Service presents an inventory of 925 rockfalls, rock slides and other so-called slope movements that occurred from 1857 to 2011. Those events killed 15 people and injured at least 85, the report said.A 2013 report prepared by the United States Geological Survey and the National Park Service presents an inventory of 925 rockfalls, rock slides and other so-called slope movements that occurred from 1857 to 2011. Those events killed 15 people and injured at least 85, the report said.
Nicholas Sitar, a professor of civil engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, said that “unfortunately, this is normal.”
Very steep rock faces like El Captain are cut into blocks by what he called “regular fractures” or “joints.” More and more fractures develop over time as the rock slowly breaks down from freezing and thawing, heating and cooling and gravity, Dr. Sitar said.
“Eventually, a block or a series of blocks become unstable and they fall,” he said in an email late Thursday.
Sometimes, Dr. Sitar said, it is possible to hear the cracking before a fall. But most of the time, there is no warning.
“The statistics in Yosemite show that rockfalls occur in all seasons,” he said, “which also makes it very difficult to anticipate or detect until it is too late.
Twenty to 25 people were killed in the park last year in drownings, falls and other accidents.Twenty to 25 people were killed in the park last year in drownings, falls and other accidents.
Yosemite, which includes about 750,000 acres, is among the most visited national parks in the country. It is about 150 miles east of San Francisco.Yosemite, which includes about 750,000 acres, is among the most visited national parks in the country. It is about 150 miles east of San Francisco.