The key facts
- On November 2 in Pagosa Springs, a flood swept away a residential house that broke apart upon impact with a pedestrian bridge — the moment was caught on video
- The San Juan River level reached approximately 5.1 meters, approaching the 1911 record
- A mandatory evacuation was declared in Archuleta County, and sections of US 160 were damaged
House swept into river and smashed against a bridge
In the US state of Colorado, a powerful flood swept away an entire residential house: the current carried the building down the river and slammed it forcefully into a pedestrian bridge, after which the structure broke apart and the debris was carried further downstream. The moment of destruction was caught on video, reports Life.ru.
What happened and how authorities are responding
The incident occurred on November 2 in the town of Pagosa Springs, where the San Juan River burst its banks after prolonged heavy rains. The current undermined the bank, tore the house off its foundation and carried it downstream: for several moments the building remained almost intact, but the impact with the bridge proved devastating. An eyewitness was local resident Ben Dozier, who filmed what was happening on his phone. According to him, he heard a loud noise coming from the river, went out to look and saw the neighboring building sliding into the water; the roar, according to the witness, was deafening.
Scale of the flooding
The flooding also affected other areas of southwestern Colorado. On the evening of November 1, the San Juan River level in Pagosa Springs reached approximately 5.1 meters, approaching the historic record set in 1911. Water flooded streets, damaged buildings and road infrastructure. In Archuleta County, authorities declared a mandatory evacuation of residents from low-lying areas and closed several bridges due to the threat of collapse, including the crossing on federal highway US 160. Rescuers and National Guard personnel went door to door checking whether anyone remained inside who needed help.
Road damage
The road network suffered especially serious damage. According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, floods washed out sections of several highways and in some places completely destroyed the roadway. On US 160, damage was recorded in several areas between Durango and South Fork; some roads, according to the department, will require not routine repairs but full reconstruction.
Context: August flooding in Indiana
This is not the first destructive flood in the United States this year. In August, in the state of Indiana, powerful storms and the ensuing floods killed at least seven people, flooded homes and roads, and left more than 125,000 customers without electricity. The disaster struck the region on August 11: in some areas wind gusts exceeded 44 meters per second, and river levels broke a record that had stood since 1913. Rescuers had to evacuate residents of flooded communities, and infrastructure restoration continued even after the water receded.
