Photos of search crews racing against time as Texas flood deaths near 90
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Wildfire that destroyed Grand Canyon lodge spread after being left to burn for days
A wildfire raging along the Grand Canyon's North Rim that leveled a historic lodge erupted over the weekend after burning for more than a week, raising scrutiny over the National Park Service's decision not to aggressively attack the fire right away. Katie Hobbs, Arizona's governor, called for a federal investigation into the park service's handling of the fire, which was sparked by lightning on 4 July. 'Arizonans deserve answers for how this fire was allowed to decimate the Grand Canyon National Park,' the governor said in a social media post Sunday. 'The federal government chose to manage that fire as a controlled burn during the driest, hottest part of the Arizona summer.' Authorities first used a 'confine and contain' strategy by clearing fuel sources, but shifted to aggressive suppression as the fire rapidly grew to nearly 8 square miles (20.7 square kilometers) because of hot temperatures, low humidity and strong wind gusts, fire officials said. The fire destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge, the only lodging inside the park's North Rim, along with cabins, employee housing and a waste water treatment plant, park superintendent Ed Keable said Sunday. Park officials have closed access for the rest of the year to the North Rim, a less popular and more isolated area of the park that draws only about 10% of the Grand Canyon's millions of annual visitors. Hikers in the area were evacuated and rafters on the Colorado River, which snakes through the canyon, were told to bypass Phantom Ranch, an outpost of cabins and dormitories. No injuries have been reported, but 50 to 80 structures have been lost, the park superintendent said. From the air, plumes of black smoke could be seen rising above the canyon walls. The fire flared up Saturday night, fueled by high winds. Firefighters managed to make progress, using aerial fire retardant drops near the lodge before they had to pull back because of a chlorine gas leak at the water treatment plant, the park service said. Across the west, about three dozen fires are burning uncontained and another 80 fires are being managed to clear out vegetation that has clogged the landscape, according to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. So far this year, nearly 2.5 million acres have burned. That's slightly below the 10-year average, according to the center. Near the Grand Canyon's North Rim, there were two wildfires burning – the Dragon Bravo fire that destroyed the lodge and other buildings and the White Sage fire, which by Sunday afternoon had charred 63 square miles (162 square kilometers) of terrain. Officials reported progress in battling the White Sage Fire. Nearly 5 million people visited the Grand Canyon last year, with most sticking to the South Rim. Roads in the North Rim are closed to vehicles in the winter and the lodge opens in May through mid-October. The Grand Canyon Lodge, known for its huge ponderosa beams, massive limestone facade and a bronze statue of a donkey named 'Brighty the Burro,' was perched on the edge of the North Rim and offered sweeping views of the canyon. Caren Carney was staying at the lodge last week with her husband, parents and 12-year-old son when a park ranger knocked on their door Thursday and told them to evacuate. She was heartbroken Sunday to hear that such a 'magical place' had burned down. After evacuating, the family from Georgia went to the South Rim and could see the blaze from across the canyon. 'I'm so glad we got to have one final look at it in the present before it was lost,' Carney said. Aramark, the company that operated the lodge, said all employees and guests were safely evacuated. An original lodge burned down from a kitchen fire in 1932, four years after construction was completed, according to the Grand Canyon Historical Society. The redesigned lodge using the original stonework opened in 1937. Elsewhere, a wildfire burning in south-western Colorado closed Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and forced the evacuation of homes near the park. The fire was started by lightning Thursday on the south rim of the park, a dramatic, deep gorge carved by the Gunnison River. Jared Polis, Colorado's governor, issued a disaster declaration Sunday because of it and other fires burning in western Colorado.
.jpg%3Ftrim%3D148%2C0%2C0%2C0%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=100)
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Large sinkhole opens up in middle of road near Clapham Common
A large sinkhole has opened up near Clapham Common following a burst pipe, causing extensive flooding. Emergency services have sealed off a section of Clapham Park Road in southwest London following the explosion of a pipe, according to Thames Water. They said in a statement that it will be 'difficult' to repair the road due to the size of the burst pipe. Photos published by the water company showed a large section of the road broken off and submerged under water. A second photo showed a significant portion of the road flooded, with fire engines positioned by the flooding. 'We're very sorry if you're affected by road closures at Clapham Park Road, SW4,' Thames Water wrote in a statement. 'We're currently dealing with a burst pipe which caused a large amount of flooding to the area. 'To keep the public and our team safe, we've set up traffic lights while we work in the road. Sorry for the impact this may have on traffic in the area, and any delays to your journey 'Due to the size of the pipe and it's location this is going to be a difficult repair. We've now controlled the flow of water from the burst pipe, and a specialist team have carried out investigations to confirm the road surface is safe for us to continue with the repair. 'As soon as we confirm this we'll then dig down to the damaged section of pipe and decide how best to fix it. 'You shouldn't notice any changes to your water supply whilst we carry out these emergency repairs and we'll continue to update you as we work to get this resolved as quickly as possible. 'As soon as we know more, we'll be back with an update.'
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Warning as 23m Americans face tropical trouble that could spawn Storm Dexter TOMORROW
A potential tropical system is forming off Florida 's coast, and officials say it could bring heavy rain and flooding to millions of people in the coming days. A low-pressure system is currently moving west across Florida and is expected to reach the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico by late Tuesday. Forecasters say those conditions could help it strengthen into a named storm. If the system continues to develop, it would become Tropical Storm Dexter, the fourth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. Cities including Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and areas along coastal Alabama are being advised to prepare for possible street flooding, strong rip currents, and travel disruptions. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), there is a 10 percent chance the system develops in the next 48 hours and a 30 percent chance over the next seven days. Rip current risks are also expected to climb by Thursday along the Alabama coast and Florida Panhandle. In total, more than 23 million Americans live in areas that could be impacted by rain and possible storm surge, stretching from Florida's Atlantic coast to southeastern Louisiana. 'Environmental conditions appear favorable enough to support some gradual development of this system,' the NHC said Monday. 'It is expected to move westward to west-northwestward across the northeastern and north-central portions of the Gulf during the middle to latter part of this week,' they added. Flash flood risks are expected to rise later this week, especially across central and southern Florida, where some areas could see more than six inches of rain, possibly even higher in isolated spots. According to AccuWeather meteorologists, the system has the best chance of strengthening between July 15 and 17 as it moves across the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. However, forecasters warn that heavy rainfall is likely even if the system doesn't become a named storm. The National Weather Service (NWS) said: 'Multiple rounds of heavy rain could lead to flooding concerns by mid-week, but especially in the latter part of this upcoming week. Expect several days with widespread showers and storms.' Rip current risks are also expected to increase by Thursday along the Alabama coast and Florida Panhandle. The disturbance began as a large area of low pressure off Florida's east coast and is now moving west toward the northeastern Gulf. However, dry air in the region may limit how quickly it develops. To officially become a tropical storm, the system would need to form a well-defined center and produce sustained winds of at least 40 mph. Meteorologists say it hasn't reached that point yet but are continuing to monitor its progress closely. This system follows three earlier named storms: Andrea, Barry, and Chantal. Chantal hit North Carolina earlier this month, dumping more than 10 inches of rain in less than 24 hours and flooding streets and homes. However, it never became a hurricane, but it still caused serious damage with the death of over six people. Experts say this setup resembles the one that spawned Tropical Storm Chantal earlier this month, but with weaker wind shear, which may give this system a slightly better environment to develop as it drifts across the Gulf. That is part of the reason meteorologists stress that even weak or unorganized systems can be dangerous. Rain, flooding, and coastal hazards do not require a major storm. Earlier this year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted an above-average hurricane season in the Atlantic for 2025. The agency projected between 13 and 19 named storms for the season, including six to 10 hurricanes and three to five major ones of Category 3 or higher. It said there is a 70 percent chance the numbers will fall within those ranges. Meteorologist Kristin Walla wrote in a post on X: 'The National Hurricane Center is continuing to monitor an area of interest in the northeastern Gulf. It has a low chance of development over the next 7 days.' 'This will be something for us to calmly watch but not necessarily worry about over the coming days,' she added. The NHC and local weather offices will keep tracking the system around the clock. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. In the Eastern Pacific, hurricane season started earlier on May 15 and also ends November 30. Officials urge residents in Florida, Alabama, and along the Gulf Coast to stay alert, prepare for flash flooding, clear drains, and avoid beaches when rip current warnings are in place.
