Hundreds of people have been stranded, cars washed away and roads closed after record rainfall triggered flash floods in Death Valley in the United States.
The national park, which straddles the east California and Nevadawas hit with 1.46 inches (3.71 cm) of rain in one area, about 75% of what it typically receives in an entire year.
It was also more than ever recorded for the whole month of August.
Since 1936, the only day with more rain was April 15, 1988, when 3.73 cm (1.47 in) fell, park officials said.
Although no injuries were immediately reported, authorities confirmed that around 500 visitors and 500 park staff were trapped inside the park, and around 60 vehicles were buried in the mud. and debris.
“Whole trees and rocks were washed away,” said photographer John Sirlin.
“The sound of some of the rocks coming down the mountain was just amazing.”
He had witnessed the flood while trying to capture photos of lightning as the storm approached.
“It was more extreme than anything I saw there,” added Sirlin, who has been chasing storms since the 1990s.
“There were at least two dozen cars that were run over and stuck in there,” he said, adding that he hadn’t seen anyone injured “or any rescues on the high seas.”
During Friday’s rains, large garbage containers were pushed into parked cars, causing the vehicles to collide, the park said in a statement.
“In addition, many facilities are flooded, including hotel rooms and offices,” he added.
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Residents were also left without water after a supply line being repaired broke and caused the system to fail.
The storm followed another major flood earlier this week in the park 120 miles northeast of Las Vegas.
On Monday, some roads were closed after being inundated with mud and debris from flash floods that also hit western Nevada and northern Arizona.
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