PAYSON, Ariz. — Nine members of the same family, including six children, are dead in central Arizona after raging flood waters swept them away Saturday afternoon during a family outing at a swimming hole, authorities said. Rescue workers are searching for another family member, a 27-year-old man, still missing after the flash flooding.
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The family was in the Tonto National Forest at the popular Cold Springs watering hole, along with dozens of others swimming in the East Verde River, when a wall of water came rushing through a narrow canyon, sweeping away the family, according to KNXV TV.
Officials found several of the victims as far as two miles downstream.
The victims include children between the ages of 2 and 13 and a 60-year-old grandmother.
Flash flood warnings were posted in the area on Saturday, KNXV reported.