(Los Angeles) Several hundred tourists have been evacuated from an area of the very famous Grand Canyon site in the southwest of the United States, due to a very rapid fire, the American authorities announced on Friday.
The fire, which broke out on Thursday, ravaged more than 3,500 hectares of brush near the north bank (North Rim) of the National Park and was still out of control Friday at midday.
“Last night, the staff of the Grand Canyon safely evacuated around 500 visitors from the north shore due to the fire,” said the park on X. “All visitors left the area, and the park employees as well as the residents remain confined to the site. »»
The images provided by the authorities show large columns of smoke rising above the brush desert.
The sheriff of the region also carried out evacuations.
“We have evacuated around 40 people, but many others had left the scene before our arrival,” Jon Paxton, a spokesperson for Coconino County, said that “most” evacuated “were campers”.
The south shore (South Rim) of the park, the most touristy, remains still accessible.
With its grandiose landscapes, the Grand Canyon, a glowing throat dug by the Colorado river, is one of the most visited tourist sites in the United States and attracts nearly five million visitors each year.
Another national park in the southwest of the country, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado, was completely evacuated on Thursday due to another fire.
The latter, caused by lightning, has already ravaged more than 600 hectares, powered by powerful winds, very dry vegetation and very high temperatures.
An extreme temperature alert was also issued this week for the Grand Canyon park, with expected temperatures that can exceed 46 ° C in the shade in places.
On Tuesday, the authorities found a 67 -year -old hiker who died in the park. An investigation is underway and the first elements suggest that his death would be linked to heat.
