World | USA
Thousands flee heavy flooding in Washington
Rain and high winds in Washington state have caused widespread avalanches, mudslides, flooding and road closures.
- Agencies
- Published: 12:33 January 8, 2009
Washington: Rain and high winds in Washington state have caused widespread avalanches, mudslides, flooding and road closures.
More than 30,000 people have been told to leave their homes in a flood-endangered valley southeast of Tacoma. Fire trucks with loudspeakers rolled through suburban Orting advising everyone to leave the town and surrounding valley.
A National Weather Service forecaster in Seattle is predicting there will be a "memorable flood event."
Tacoma's mayor has declared a civil emergency because of flood risks.
Throughout the state, about 60 highways were closed, including every pass through the Cascade Range. A 20-mile stretch of Interstate 5 in southwestern Washington was also closed Wednesday evening.
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