Date:19/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/19/stories/2008081955661300.htm

International

Dam breaks near Grand Canyon

PHOENIX: A dam broke near the Grand Canyon on Sunday after heavy rain, forcing officials to pluck hundreds of residents and campers from the gorge by helicopter. No injuries were immediately reported.

The failure of the Redlands Dam caused some flooding in the village of Supai, where about 400 members of the Havasupai native American tribe live, said Grand Canyon National Park spokeswoman Maureen Oltrogge. Even before the rain-swollen dam burst, heavy rainfall since Friday totalling as much as 20 cm caused flooding and problems in the area.

Evacuees were being flown to a parking area 13 km from Supai and bussed to a Red Cross shelter in Peach Springs, about 97 km southwest of Supai. A flash flood warning was in effect in the area.— AP