Hundreds evacuated near Grand Canyon as dam bursts: reports

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Hundreds of people were evacuated from a remote town in the Grand Canyon on Sunday after heavy rain caused an earthen dam to burst, reports said.

Local media citing the US National Park Service said between 300-400 people were evacuated from the Indian tribal village of Supai, north of Phoenix, after the Redlands Dam broke at around 6:00 am (1400 GMT) on Sunday.

No injuries were immediately reported. Some 75 campers were also evacuated from the Grand Canyon because of flooding, which followed two days of torrential rain in the region, according to local media reports.

Most of the evacuees were members of the Havasupai tribe and were being cared for at a Red Cross shelter set up at Peach Springs, around 60 miles (96 kilometers) southwest...