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Six People Rescued From Racing Floodwaters in Las Vegas Area

Flood control basins and washes filled with water rushing as fast as 30 mph, officials said.
Image: Las Vegas flooding
Cars and trucks are swamped Thursday on Sunset Road in the Las Vegas valley.Steve Marcus / AP

At least six people — and two dogs — were rescued from swiftly rushing water and major intersections were closed Thursday as heavy rains caused flash floods in the Las Vegas area, authorities said.

Parts of the area got as much as 1½ inches of rain and hail in a short time Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service said. Flood control basins and washes quickly filled with water rushing as fast as 30 mph, according to the Clark County Regional Flood Control District.

Clark County Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Buchanan told NBC station KSNV of Las Vegas that six people and two dogs had to be rescued from the racing waters in two separate operations.

IMAGE: Clark County, Nevada, flooding
A flooded intersection Thursday in Clark County, Nevada.Clark County Government

One of the people, a woman who collapsed from an existing medical condition and was then swept away to a golf course, was in critical condition Thursday night, the fire department said.

Several major roads were hit hard, many of them in the southeastern Las Vegas suburb of Henderson. Parts of U.S. Highway 95 and State Road 159 were closed as road crews dealt with rising water and flood water, the state Transportation Department said late Thursday afternoon.

About 45 arrivals and departures were canceled at McCarran International Airport, which reported that almost 150 more were delayed by the weather.