Severe flooding has struck a remote suburb of Phoenix, Arizona, starting from Friday (September 26), resulting in the deaths of four individuals.
The flood-hit area is located to the east of Phoenix, approximately 88 miles away from the mining town of Globe, with a population of about 7,250 people. Within 24 hours, the torrential rain brought approximately 2.5 inches (6.4 centimeters) of rainfall.
On September 26, the heavy rain quickly inundated the downtown area, forcing residents to seek refuge on rooftops and washing away a propane distribution station, causing around 1,000 large gas tanks to scatter across the city center, fortunately without any of them catching fire or exploding. Social media videos showed vehicles in Globe being swept away by the floodwaters.
By September 27, the heavy rain had led to a surge in creek waters, forcing rescue teams to temporarily halt the search for missing individuals swept away by the flood.
Carl Melford, the emergency management official of Gila County, stated on Saturday that rescue teams discovered two bodies inside a vehicle in the city of Globe, with another person found in the floodwaters. The identities of the three deceased individuals have not been confirmed yet.
Melford mentioned that the Globe City Police are searching for missing persons, and the exact number of individuals still unaccounted for remains unclear. He advised residents against engaging in flood search efforts and recommended assisting family or neighbors first to avoid disrupting rescue operations.
The Globe City Council declared a state of emergency and noted that they had never witnessed such severe flooding before.
Mayor Al Gameros emphasized that numerous volunteers have joined the rescue efforts, but due to structural damage in the city center, residents should refrain from entering until safety is assured, with rescue operations remaining the top priority.
While the nearby mining town of Miami experienced flooded streets, no injuries have been reported.
Shaileen Gonzales, a dispatch officer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, mentioned that due to the flooding, some tourists were stranded in parts of the Havasupai Indian Reservation, including the renowned Havasu Falls, with approximately 20 tourists successfully evacuated.
Furthermore, on Saturday morning, rescue teams discovered a fourth fatality under a vehicle in the outskirts of Phoenix. The vehicle was submerged by a swift current measuring 8 feet (2.4 meters) high on Friday night, seemingly empty at the time. As the water levels receded, rescue personnel found the body trapped beneath a pedestrian bridge.
(Information sourced and adapted from the Associated Press)