The state of Arizona is reeling after heavy rain caused severe flooding, resulting in four confirmed deaths and prompting emergency declarations.
Officials confirmed Saturday that four people have died after the rain inundated several areas, sending residents to their rooftops in a bid for safety.
Three of the fatalities occurred in Globe, one of Arizona’s oldest mining towns, located about 88 miles (142 kilometers) east of Phoenix, according to Carl Melford, the emergency manager in Gila County.
Two victims were discovered inside a vehicle, and a third was found in the floodwaters, though their identities have not been released.
The fourth victim was found near a vehicle caught in floodwaters in suburban Phoenix on Saturday morning, after the vehicle was initially spotted partially submerged in approximately eight feet of fast-moving water the previous evening.
After water levels receded overnight, crews from the Scottsdale Fire Department located the body pinned underneath a walkway bridge.
The flooding was characterised by officials as an ‘extremely heavy amount of rain in an extremely short period of time.’ In Globe, which was among the hardest-hit communities, sheriffs’ officials are actively investigating reports of potentially missing persons, triggering a ‘massive search and rescue’ operation.
The downtown area was rapidly submerged on Friday, with one of the first areas hit being a propane tank distributor, which sent about 1,000 residential-sized tanks scattering throughout the city.
Hazmat workers have been deployed to the scene, as propane tanks are now ‘everywhere through downtown Globe,’ though fortunately, none ignited or exploded.
Globe city council members have declared an emergency, with Mayor Al Gamero stating they have ‘never seen anything like’ this flooding.
Residents are being urged to avoid self-deploying in search of victims, as volunteers could interfere with search-and-rescue dogs.
Red Cross shelters have been opened, and officials, including Mayor Gamero, have been in contact with Arizona Governor Katie Hobb's office, as well as Senator Mark Kelly and Congressman Eli Crane, while urging patience with the ongoing operations to clear hazards and ensure the area is safe.
Officials confirmed Saturday that four people have died after the rain inundated several areas, sending residents to their rooftops in a bid for safety.
Three of the fatalities occurred in Globe, one of Arizona’s oldest mining towns, located about 88 miles (142 kilometers) east of Phoenix, according to Carl Melford, the emergency manager in Gila County.
Two victims were discovered inside a vehicle, and a third was found in the floodwaters, though their identities have not been released.
The fourth victim was found near a vehicle caught in floodwaters in suburban Phoenix on Saturday morning, after the vehicle was initially spotted partially submerged in approximately eight feet of fast-moving water the previous evening.
After water levels receded overnight, crews from the Scottsdale Fire Department located the body pinned underneath a walkway bridge.
The flooding was characterised by officials as an ‘extremely heavy amount of rain in an extremely short period of time.’ In Globe, which was among the hardest-hit communities, sheriffs’ officials are actively investigating reports of potentially missing persons, triggering a ‘massive search and rescue’ operation.
The downtown area was rapidly submerged on Friday, with one of the first areas hit being a propane tank distributor, which sent about 1,000 residential-sized tanks scattering throughout the city.
Hazmat workers have been deployed to the scene, as propane tanks are now ‘everywhere through downtown Globe,’ though fortunately, none ignited or exploded.
Globe city council members have declared an emergency, with Mayor Al Gamero stating they have ‘never seen anything like’ this flooding.
Residents are being urged to avoid self-deploying in search of victims, as volunteers could interfere with search-and-rescue dogs.
Red Cross shelters have been opened, and officials, including Mayor Gamero, have been in contact with Arizona Governor Katie Hobb's office, as well as Senator Mark Kelly and Congressman Eli Crane, while urging patience with the ongoing operations to clear hazards and ensure the area is safe.