Levee break near Seattle prompts evacuation order
Emergency officials on Monday urged residents near the northwestern US city of Seattle to evacuate after a levee breach triggered dangerous flooding following days of heavy rainfall across the region.
The breach occurred along the Desimone Levee on the Green River in Tukwila, a suburb located south of Seattle, King County emergency services said. Authorities warned that rising water levels posed an immediate threat to nearby neighborhoods, prompting urgent evacuation notices.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flash flood warning affecting more than 46,000 residents in the area. In a statement posted by its Seattle regional office, the agency warned that “conditions are dangerous and access routes may be lost at any time,” urging people in parts of Tukwila, Renton and Kent to “leave immediately.” Officials stressed that delays could put lives at risk as floodwaters continued to rise.
The flooding led to the closure of several major highways and roads around Seattle, further complicating evacuation efforts. Live traffic camera feeds from the Washington Department of Transportation showed congestion on alternative routes as residents attempted to leave low-lying areas. Emergency officials warned drivers to avoid flooded roads, noting that conditions could change rapidly.
In response to the escalating situation, the Washington National Guard said it was deploying troops to the area surrounding the levee breach to assist with evacuations and provide support to local authorities. The Guard had already been mobilized due to the prolonged rain event and flooding affecting multiple parts of the state.
The severe weather is part of a broader storm system that has been battering the Pacific Northwest of the United States and the west coast of Canada for several days. Persistent heavy rainfall has caused rivers to swell, overwhelmed drainage systems and forced evacuations in several communities.
Local and state officials said emergency crews were monitoring river levels closely and assessing the integrity of other levees and flood control structures in the region. Residents were urged to stay informed through official alerts and avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.
Forecasters warned that additional rainfall could worsen flooding conditions in the coming days, raising concerns about further infrastructure damage and displacement. Authorities emphasized that public safety remains the top priority as efforts continue to manage the impact of the storms and protect vulnerable communities near Seattle.
