GLOBE, Ariz. (AP) — Four individuals lost their lives after intense rainfall led to flooding in Arizona, forcing residents of a rural area to seek refuge on their rooftops, officials reported on Saturday.
In Globe, a city home to roughly 7,250 residents located about 88 miles (142 kilometers) east of Phoenix, three individuals perished as rain overwhelmed the area, said Carl Melford, the emergency manager of Gila County. Two victims were discovered inside a vehicle, while a third was found in the floodwaters. Authorities have not yet released their identities.
An additional individual was discovered deceased on Saturday morning near a vehicle that had been ensnared by floodwaters the previous evening in a suburb of Phoenix. The vehicle, initially found partly submerged in around 8 feet of rapid water on Friday evening in a greenbelt park zone, appeared vacant, according to the Scottsdale Fire Department. Once the water receded slightly overnight, crews located a body trapped beneath a walkway bridge, the department mentioned.
In the rural locality of Globe, noted as one of Arizona’s oldest mining areas, sheriffs’ officials are investigating reports concerning potentially missing persons, Melford noted, though he could not provide specific numbers.
“We now have a massive search and rescue underway,” he said.
Heavy rains lashed the area and swiftly inundated the downtown sector on Friday, Melford stated. Initially, a propane tank distribution site was hit, causing approximately 1,000 residential-sized tanks to scatter across the community, he explained.
“Propane tanks litter the downtown Globe area,” he mentioned, stating that hazmat teams have been dispatched to the location. “Fortunately, none ignited or exploded.”
The area previously experienced flooding in 2021 after a wildfire, but it didn’t happen like this, Melford said.
“This was an extremely heavy amount of rain in an extremely short period of time,” he said.
Authorities are asking residents to not go out searching in the floodwaters because search and rescue officials are accompanied by dogs who might pick up the scent of aspiring volunteers instead of possible flood victims. If people want to help, they should start by assisting friends and neighbors in need, Melford said.
Globe city council members declared an emergency, saying they have never seen anything like the flooding.
Scores of people have stepped up to volunteer, said Mayor Al Gamero, adding that many buildings in the community’s downtown have been damaged. Officials asked people to stay away from the area until they could ensure it is safe to go in there.
“Our primary, again, is search and rescue,” Gamero said Saturday.
