Rescue workers continue their search today for four people still missing after Monday evening's flash flooding along the Utah-Arizona border. Powerful flood waters washed away two vehicles carrying 16 women and children, killing 12 and leaving one missing. Three survived. And some 20 miles to the north at Zion National Park, a group of hikers got caught up in flooding caused by the same storm system. Four bodies have been found and three people are still missing.
Washington County Sheriff Cory Pulsipher says the dead and missing hikers were in the Keyhole Canyon area of the park when heavy rains fell Monday.
“To have this type of flooding incident that involves this many individuals is a complete tragedy,” Pulsipher said.
In 2005 one Washington County resident died during floods and then in 2010 rising water damaged homes without any loss of life. It is not uncommon for flash-floods to threaten hikers and residents in Southern Utah.
Utah Governor Gary Herbert released a statement Tuesday offering condolences to the families of flood victims. The governor’s office and Utah Department of Public Safety is working with local officials and emergency workers in Zion National Park and in the towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona.