GLOBE, Ariz. (AP) — Four people died after heavy rain caused flooding in Arizona, including three in a rural 19th-century mining town where floodwaters forced people to seek safety on their rooftops and washed out a propane distributorship, scattering about 1,000 tanks downtown.
About 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) of rain fell in Globe, a city of about 7,250 people about 88 miles (142 kilometers) east of Phoenix, on Friday, and another storm moved in Saturday, temporarily halting the search for people possibly missing in the flood.
The bodies of two people were earlier found in a vehicle and another person was found in the floodwaters in Globe, Carl Melford, emergency manager in Gila County, said. They were not immediately identified by authorities.
Another person was found dead Saturday morning near a vehicle caught in floodwaters in suburban Phoenix the night before. The vehicle appeared to be empty after it was spotted partially submerged in about 8 feet (2.4 meters) of fast-moving water on Friday evening in a greenbelt park area, the Scottsdale Fire Department said. After the water dropped a bit overnight, crews found the body of a person pinned underneath a walkway bridge, the department said.
In the rural community of Globe, one of Arizona's oldest mining towns, sheriffs’ officials were looking into reports of people who may be missing, Melford said, but could not specify a number.
“We now have a massive search and rescue underway,” he said.
Rain poured down and quickly flooded the downtown area Friday, Melford said. One of the first areas hit was a propane tank distributor, sending about 1,000 residential-sized tanks throughout the community, he said.
“There’s propane tanks everywhere through downtown Globe,” he said, adding that hazmat workers have been sent to the scene. “Luckily none of them ignited or exploded.”
The area previously experienced flooding in 2021 after a wildfire, but it didn’t happen like this, Melford said. The city is near canyons that can funnel water from the mountains into the community very quickly.
“This was an extremely heavy amount of rain in an extremely short period of time,” he said.
Videos shared on social media show vehicles in Globe being swept away by rushing, muddy water, with some smashed up against poles and large propane tanks scattered around.
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.