Arizona Flood Crisis: Four Confirmed Dead, Propane Hazard Complicates Rescue Efforts
Arizona Flood Crisis: Four Confirmed Dead, Propane Hazard Complicates Rescue Efforts
A devastating flood event has claimed at least four lives across Arizona, with emergency crews battling hazardous conditions, including hundreds of dislodged propane tanks, as search and rescue operations intensify. The disaster follows an unprecedented deluge that hit the state, particularly impacting the rural community of Globe.
Three fatalities have been confirmed in Globe, a city approximately 88 miles east of Phoenix, after heavy rains inundated the area. Gila County emergency manager Carl Melford reported that two victims were found in a vehicle and another in the floodwaters. Separately, a fourth person was discovered deceased Saturday morning near a vehicle submerged in floodwaters in suburban Phoenix, after being pinned under a walkway bridge.
The situation in Globe remains critical, with sheriff deputies actively investigating reports of missing persons and a ‘massive search and rescue underway,’ according to Melford. Compounding the danger, an estimated 1,000 residential-sized propane tanks were swept through downtown Globe from a distributor, creating a significant hazmat risk, though fortunately none have ignited or exploded.
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport recorded its highest one-day rainfall total in nearly seven years on Friday, marking the city’s fourth wettest day since 2000. Globe city council members have declared an emergency, describing the rainfall as ‘extremely heavy’ in a short period. Authorities are urging residents to refrain from self-initiated searches to avoid interfering with official search dogs, advising instead to assist neighbors and friends.
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