Intense Rainfall Leads to Fatal Flooding in Nogales, Straddling Two Nations
Heavy rains over the past weekend have led to fatal flooding in Nogales, a city split across the U.S.–Mexico border. The flooding has affected both Nogales, Arizona, and its sister city, Nogales, Mexico, causing significant distress in these interconnected communities.
Gerardo Castillo, the Undersheriff of Santa Cruz County, reported that search teams were mobilized last week after witnesses saw a woman being swept away in the Nogales Wash. This watercourse originates in Sonora, Mexico, and flows northward into the United States.
In response to the emergency, a binational search effort comprising more than 30 volunteers from fire departments, rescue teams, and various agencies was launched. This collaborative operation successfully recovered three flood victims. Authorities from both countries are working to identify these individuals, who are believed to have originated from the Mexican side of the border, only to be carried over to the U.S. by the rushing waters.
Castillo highlighted the shared vulnerabilities of the two cities, stating, “We share the same wash and we share the same sewer system. And also, they [Nogales, Sonora] are in a higher elevation than we are.”
On Friday morning, search crews located a man’s body, but efforts were temporarily halted due to further heavy rainfall. The search resumed on Saturday, leading to the discovery of a woman’s body in the morning and a third unidentified body later that day. All three bodies have been transferred to the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office for identification.
As of now, the sheriff’s office, in conjunction with the Mexican consulate, continues its efforts to identify the deceased. However, no reports of missing persons have been filed in connection with the incident.
