Arizona flash flood kills 9 relatives celebrating birthday
TONTO NATIONAL FOREST, Ariz. — The flash flood that killed nine people in an Arizona river canyon began its deadly descent as an impressive but avoidable surge of churning water, black with cinders from a recent wildfire and choked with tumbling tree trunks and limbs.
By the time it reached a rocky swimming hole several miles downstream, it was a roaring torrent 6 feet (1.8 metres) high, and an extended family celebrating a birthday while seeking refuge from the summer heat had no warning — and no chance to escape.
The bodies were found up to 2 miles (3 kilometres) away. Five other people were rescued, some of them clinging desperately to trees, and were treated for hypothermia and released.
As rescuers searched Monday for a 27-year-old man still missing about 100 miles (160 kilometres) northeast of Phoenix, authorities identified the victims, who ranged in age from 2 to 60.