Flash floods devastate US Southwest, sweeping away homes and cars

Aerial images showed roads, neighbourhoods and fields submerged across the southwestern United States on Monday, 2 November, after days of heavy rain triggered severe flash floods.

In Colorado, cars, motorhomes and homes were swept away in Arboles, while in Camp Verde, Arizona, residents scrambled to safety as water rose around an RV park. Hundreds of people were forced to evacuate, and rescue teams carried out dozens of operations, including helicopter rescues. At least one person died, while police suspect a second death was linked to the flooding.

The floods affected communities across the Four Corners region, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet. In Durango, Colorado, around 200 residents joined clean-up efforts on Monday, clearing mud and debris from homes and streets.

The San Juan River reached 16.81 feet (5.1 metres), flooding parts of the town before its level began to fall.

The heavy rainfall also brought some relief to reservoirs in a region enduring a prolonged drought.