Dozens dead in Vietnam after Ha Long Bay tourist ferry sinks
The tourist boat ferrying families around Vietnam's famed Ha Long Bay was lashed by a sudden storm Saturday in one of the deadliest disasters at the UNESCO World Heritage site.
The vessel "Wonder Sea" was carrying 46 passengers and three crew when it capsized because of sudden heavy rain, according to a provincial police report seen by AFP.
Previous state media reports had said that 53 people were on board and 37 people had died, but the figures were later revised by police.
Tran Trong Hung, a resident in the Ha Long Bay area, told AFP: "The sky turned dark."
There were "hailstones as big as toes with torrential rain, thunderstorms and lightning", he said.
Most of those on board were families visiting from the capital, Hanoi, with more than 20 children among the passengers, state media outlet VNExpress said
35 bodies had been recovered and 10 people rescued by Sunday, police said, with four people still missing.
One of the rescued, a 10-year-old boy, told state media outlet VietnamNet: "I took a deep breath, swam through a gap, dived then swam up, I even shouted for help, then I was pulled up by a boat with soldiers on".
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent his condolences on Saturday to relatives of those killed and called on the defence and public security ministries to conduct urgent search and rescue.
Authorities would "investigate and clarify the cause of the incident and strictly handle violations", a government statement said.
Torrential rain also lashed northern Hanoi, Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh provinces on Saturday.
Several trees were knocked down in the capital by strong winds.
The storm followed three days of intense heat, with the mercury hitting 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas.
Mai Van Khiem, director of the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, was quoted in VNExpress as saying that the thunderstorms in northern Vietnam were not caused by the influence of Tropical Storm Wipha in the South China Sea.
Wipha entered the South China Sea on Sunday gaining strength, and is on course to make landfall in Vietnam early next week.
Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations, with millions of people visiting its blue-green waters and rainforest-topped limestone islands each year.
Last year, 30 vessels sank at boat lock areas in coastal Quang Ninh province along Ha Long Bay after Typhoon Yagi brought strong wind and waves.
And this month, a ferry sank off the popular Indonesian resort island of Bali, killing at least 18 people.
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Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
The World's Best River Cruises 2025
The World's Best River Cruises 2025 getty G liding across the world's most scenic waterways, from emerald valleys of the Douro to floating markets of the Mekong, is an undeniable poetic journey where fairytale castles meet vine-draped cliffs, saffron-robed monks drift through incense-scented temples, and howler monkeys roar from the lush, steamy canopy of the Amazon . But with so many options, where to start? To help narrow your search, we spoke to the experts at to pin down the world's best river cruises for 2025—spanning the storybook rivers of Europe , the spiritual arteries of Asia , and the soulful currents of the Mississippi . The Nile getty Flowing over 4,100 miles from the heart of East Africa, the Nile marries ancient temples with sweeping desert sands, as Egyptian feluccas glide past palm-fringed villages and moonlit minarets. Typically cruising between Luxor and Aswan , you'll sail past the colossal columns of Karnak, the sphinx-lined avenue of Luxor Temple, and the haunting tombs of the Valley of the Kings, where Tutankhamun and Ramses II lie in eternal slumber. At Kom Ombo, a rare dual temple honors both Sobek (the crocodile god) and Horus (the falcon-headed deity), while Edfu's Temple stuns with its towering pylons and mythic carvings. South in Aswan, you'll see Nubian villages, slender papyrus boats bobbing in the shallows, and the Temple of Philae, devoted to Isis, rising from the water like a mirage. Pre and post-extensions also offer the opportunity for bucket-list ticking from the iconic Pyramids of Giza to the Valley of the Kings. Join Viking 's 11-night Pharaohs and Pyramids round-trip from Cairo, from $6,499 per person, including a pre-stay in Cairo, Luxor flights, all meals, wine, beer, and soft drinks (with lunch and dinner), and 11 guided tours led by a dedicated Egyptologist. To book, head to . For UK enquiries and fares, please call 0800 319 66 60. Forbes The World's Best River Cruise Lines, According To Globe Travel Awards By Lewis Nunn The Moselle getty Winding through Germany, France, and Luxembourg—the Moselle meanders past vine-laced hills and fairytale villages—each bend revealing half-timbered houses, sun-dappled vineyards, and medieval market squares. River cruises start in Koblenz before winding past picturesque towns like Cochem, watched over by the turreted Reichsburg Castle—and Bernkastell-Kues, a wine-lover's haven, home to the iconic Spitzhäuschen. In Trier, Germany's oldest city, Roman ruins, such as the Porta Nigra and imperial baths, blend seamlessly with baroque palaces and centuries-old scholarly libraries. While the Moselle Valley is also one of Europe's most celebrated Riesling regions—with steep slate-covered vineyards where you can sip crisp, golden-hued Riesling in candlelit cellars. Join Riverside Luxury Cruises' 13-day Moselle Mosaic with Middle & Upper Rhine , from $9,600 per person onboard Riverside Debussy in a Symphony Suite—including all meals and soft drinks. Alcoholic drinks packages, excursions, and transfers are not included. To book, visit 3. The Mekong The Mekong getty Winding nearly 3,000 miles from the Tibetan Plateau to the South China Sea, the mighty Mekong is Southeast Asia's lifeblood—a wild, ancient waterway that pulses through six countries: China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. A river cruise along its lush lower reaches, between Vietnam and Cambodia, unlocks a realm of floating villages, blessings from saffron-robed monks, and rice paddies that shimmer like mirrors. You'll glide past stilted bamboo homes, water buffaloes wallowing on muddy banks, and children waving from dugout canoes. In Phnom Penh, Cambodia's energetic capital, golden spires of the Royal Palace gleam above the river, while visits to the Killing Fields reveal the city's somber history. In Vietnam, the pace shifts—hop aboard a colorful xe-loi (trishaw), explore bustling silk-weaving workshops, and watch skilled locals craft rattan mats by hand. How To Do It Join Aqua Expedition's 4-night Aqua Mekong Explorer Cruise from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh, from $6,200 per person, including all meals, selected premium wines and beer, and twice-daily excursions with local guides. To book, visit 4. The Douro The Douro getty Snaking 620 miles from Porto to the Spanish town of Duruelo de la Sierra—the UNESCO-listed Douro Valley offers graceful gliding through Portugal's most poetic landscapes of the 'River of Gold'—where terraced vineyards tumble down emerald hillsides and rabelo boats drift past sleepy villages wrapped in morning mist. Passing through five dramatic locks, you'll embark on a mighty Portuguese odyssey ticking off sights from the glorious Mateus Palace to the hilltop Castelo Rodrigo, slipping under the soaring iron arches of the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge, and sampling some of Portugal's finest Port wines in their birthplace, at storied vineyards—or 'quintas'—like Sandeman-owned Quinta do Seixo . How To Do It Join Scenic 's eight-day Delightful Douro sailing from $4,495 per person, including airport transfers, Freechoice and Enrich excursions, butler service, WiFi, gratuities, all meals, and premium beverages. To book, visit Read More: Forbes Why A Douro River Cruise Is The Best Way To See Portugal By Lewis Nunn 5. The Mississippi French Quarter, New Orleans getty Flowing over 2,300 miles from the forested lakes of Minnesota to the jazz-fuelled streets of New Orleans, the Mississippi is America's greatest storyteller—cutting through ten states from Minnesota to Louisiana . It's a rich tapestry of Southern charm, where paddlewheelers glide past Civil War battlefields, antebellum mansions, and blues-soaked river towns. In the Upper Mississippi , expect eagle sightings and stops in cities like Hannibal—Mark Twain's boyhood home. Further south, however, the Lower Mississippi reveals the grandeur of Natchez with its columned mansions and the vibrant rhythms of Memphis, birthplace of rock 'n' roll and home of Graceland . River cruises typically begin or end in New Orleans—pulsing with live jazz spilling out from French Quarter balconies—meanwhile, along the way, you'll sip sweet tea beneath magnolia trees, watch the mist rise over the bayou at dawn, and visit solemn plantation estates for deep reflection. How To Do It Join American Cruise Lines ' 9-day Lower Mississippi River cruise between Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana, from $4,295 per person, including a pre-stay, all meals, all alcoholic drinks (including premium wines and beer), daily shore excursions, WiFi, and more. To book, visit 6. The Rhône The Rhône getty Carving a path through some of France's most evocative landscapes—the Rhône is where lavender becomes a brushstroke across undulating fields, vineyards cling to limestone hills, and Roman ruins rise from charming riverside towns. It's a journey through Provence's soul, sailing between Lyon and Avignon, as you pass medieval villages, Gothic cathedrals, and world-renowned wine regions like Châteauneuf-du-Pape . In Lyon, France's gastronomic capital, stroll down cobbled lanes to find bouchons serving rich coq au vin and creamy quenelles. Further south, Arles dazzles with its Roman amphitheatre—the same city where Van Gogh produced some of his most famous works, including Starry Night Over the Rhône and The Bedroom in Arles . Wildlife lovers? The Rhône spills into the wild Camargue delta, where white horses gallop through salt marshes, flamingos strike poses in pink lagoons, and black bulls roam freely beneath the vast Provençal sky. How To Do It Join CroisiEurope's 6-night Lyon to the Tip of Provence cruise, from $1,749 per person, including all meals, drinks, and excursions. To book, visit Read More: Forbes Is This The World's Most Expensive Cruise? By Lewis Nunn 7. The Ganges The Ganges getty From the icy reaches of the Himalayas to the palm-fringed shores of the Bay of Bengal, the Ganges puts you at the beating heart of India's spiritual soul. Revered as Ganga Mata (Mother Ganges), floating along this sacred river—particularly its Lower reaches near Kolkata—offers a rare window into India's layered past. You'll glide past faded colonial-era towns, crumbling terracotta temples, and pilgrim-packed ghats, where saffron-robed monks chant and families gather to cremate loved ones in hopes of moksha (spiritual liberation). In Kalna, rickshaw rides weave through narrow lanes to its famed 108 Shiva temples, while in Mayapur, the global headquarters of ISKCON (Hare Krishna) hums with chanting devotees and towering temple domes. Further upstream, in Murshidabad , you'll uncover the regal Hazarduari Palace and the historic Katra Mosque—or just sit back on deck and gaze at river dolphins, softshell turtles, and gharial crocodiles gliding silently along this uber-spiritual river. How To Do It Join Uniworld's 12-night India's Golden Triangle & The Sacred Ganges voyage from New Delhi to Kolkata, from $5,879 per person including all meals, unlimited beverages (including fine wines & spirits), daily excursions, airport transfers, and WiFi. To book, visit 8. The Seine The Seine in Paris getty Winding through the romantic heart of northern France, the Seine— from its crystalline source in Burgundy to its mouth at the English Channel —glides past sun-dappled apple orchards, dramatic chalk cliffs, and storybook half-timbered villages. Most Seine cruises begin in Paris, offering front-row access to world-famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral . Meanwhile, downstream, you'll meander through Normandy's rolling countryside with stops at Monet's dreamy gardens in Giverny, the cobbled medieval streets of Rouen, and the haunting D-Day beaches near C aen. You'll also pass Château Gaillard —Richard the Lionheart's craggy hilltop fortress and arrive in Honfleur, a harbor town known for its slate-roofed houses and café-lined quays— beloved by Impressionist painters like Boudin and Monet . How To Do It Join Viking's 7-night Paris & the Heart of Normandy voyage, from $2,799 per person, including all meals, WiFi, wine, beer, and soft drinks (with lunch and dinner) and six guided tours. To book, visit . For UK enquiries and fares, please call 0800 319 66 60. Read More: Forbes The World's Best Luxury Cruise Lines, According To Globe Travel Awards By Lewis Nunn 9. The Amazon The Amazon getty Stretching over 4,000 miles from the majestic Peruvian Andes to the Atlantic Ocean, the Amazon is a snaking lifeline through the world's largest rainforest—a labyrinth of gnarled vines, glittering oxbow lakes, and mirror-like lagoons. Here, pink river dolphins leap through blackwater tributaries, howler monkeys roar from the canopy, and giant water lilies unfurl like floating dinner plates beneath the jungle's cathedral-like trees. River cruises typically launch from Peru or Brazil, where sleek, low-slung river ships glide past floating villages, stilted huts, and wildlife-rich lagoons. Excursions? Think misty skiff rides at dawn, torchlit caiman spotting beneath star-strewn skies, jungle hikes led by indigenous guides, and adrenaline-tinged piranha fishing in secluded, root-wrapped creeks. Or, you might even encounter ribereños —the river's native communities—who share ancient medicinal plant wisdom passed down through generations. How To Do It Join G Adventures' 9-day Amazon Riverboat in Depth round-trip from Lima, from $3,799 per person, including daily excursions, internal flights, and most meals. International flights, drinks, and gratuities are not included. To book, visit 10. The Rhine The Rhine getty Flowing from the glacial peaks of the Swiss Alps to the windswept coastlines of the North Sea, the Rhine threads its way through storied medieval fortresses, vineyard-cloaked slopes, and majestic cathedral cities—carving six countries: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Between Strasbourg and Koblenz, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley , a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers one of Europe's most cinematic stretches—where gothic castles perch above vine-streaked cliffs like stone crowns and the river curls beneath the fabled Lorelei Rock , home to age-old legends of treacherous sirens and shipwrecks. Opt for a river cruise here and you'll drift past Bacharach's turreted skyline, Rüdesheim's cobbled alleyways, and sweeping vineyards that birth Germany's most elegant Rieslings. How To Do It APT 8-day highlights of the Rhine and Main voyages start from $2,542—including all meals, an unlimited selection of cocktails, premium spirits, champagne, wine, beer, and soft drinks; experiences, transfers, and gratuities. For more information, visit Read More: Forbes The Ultimate Guide To South Africa Cruises By Lewis Nunn 11. The Chobe Chobe National Park in Botswana getty Along the remote border of Botswana and Namibia, the Chobe is one of Africa's most thrilling waterways—with a front-row seat to nature's grandest spectacles: think elephants bathing at sunset, hippos yawning in the shallows, and sleek crocodiles basking on golden sandbanks. Cruises typically begin near Kasane, gateway to Chobe National Park—home to one of the largest elephant populations on Earth—while on the river, you'll drift past floodplains teeming with buffalo, leaping antelope, and a kaleidoscope of over 450 bird species, from majestic African fish eagles to the mysterious Pel's fishing owl. Excursions? Think game drives, sunset cruises, and visits to gems like Impalila Island —where tribal traditions offer a glimpse into local life. Whether you're sipping a sundowner as elephants gracefully cross the river or spotting rare birds from a skiff at dawn, the Chobe is—simply put—a wildlife safari by water. How To Do It Join AmaWaterways' 9-night Discover Africa voyage, from $12,045 per person, with 3 nights in Cape Town, a 4-night Chobe River wildlife cruise, and 2 nights at Victoria Falls (including luxury lodges, game drives, and river safaris). This fare includes all meals, guided excursions, and internal flights. To book, visit 12. The Elbe The Elbe getty Stretching nearly 700 miles from the Czech Republic's mist-shrouded Krkonoše Mountains to the North Sea, the Elbe is less trafficked than its European siblings—offering a quieter journey through baroque cities, vineyard-cloaked hills, and fairytale fortresses. Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve , it is home to white-tailed eagles, beavers, and migrating cranes, with floodplain meadows and wetlands in abundance. Cruising between Prague and Hamburg, you'll pass through the Elbe Sandstone Mountains—known as Saxon Switzerland —where jagged rock spires rise above pine forests and misty gorges. While stops include Dresden , once dubbed the 'Florence of the Elbe', with its rococo palaces and ornate domes, and Wittenberg , where you'll walk in the footsteps of Martin Luther. How To Do It Join VIVA Cruises' 7-night Adventcruise from Berlin to Prague, from $2,145 per person, including all meals, a selection of premium wines and beer, and one 'high tea' experience per trip. To book, head to 13. The Magdalena Magdalena getty Spilling northward for almost 950 miles from the misty Andean highlands to the sun-kissed shores of the Caribbean, the Magdalena is Colombia's ancient artery of trade. Departing from Cartagena or bustling Barranquilla, you'll glide past tangled mangrove forests and banana plantations, pausing in storied towns like Palenque , a UNESCO-recognized 'free town' founded by escaped slaves, and Mompox —where masterful filigree artisans craft intricate gold jewelry by hand. In El Banco, birthplace of jubilant cumbia music, you'll be serenaded by local performers in embroidered costumes, while in Nueva Venecia , you'll drift through a floating village where homes, schools, and churches rise on stilts above the water. The Magdalena is also a haven for birdwatchers and nature lovers alike—so keep watch for scarlet ibises, river dolphins, and the elusive blue-billed curassow amid its thriving wetlands. How To Do It Join AmaWaterways' 7-night Wonders of Colombia River voyage along the Magdalena River, from $3,089 per person, including all meals, wine and beer (with lunch and dinner), a daily cocktail hour, and small-group excursions. To book, visit Read More: Forbes Meet The President Of AmaWaterways By Lewis Nunn 14. The Garonne and Dordogne Dordogne Valley getty In the heart of southwestern France, the Garonne and Dordogne form the majestic Gironde Estuary—dotted with fairytale châteaux aplenty, where UNESCO-listed towns unfold in slow, elegant succession. River cruises typically begin in Bordeaux , a city of neoclassical grandeur, with café-lined boulevards, leafy promenades, and 347 protected buildings, where the opulent Place de la Bourse shimmers and the Cité du Vin offers a deep dive into wine heritage. On the way, you'll glide past Cadillac's medieval streets, Blaye's formidable Vauban citadel, and the vineyard-laced slopes of Pauillac, home to legendary wine estates like Château Lafite Rothschild . Highlights? Think Sauternes for golden dessert wines, Arcachon Bay for oysters, and Saint-Émilion 's limestone catacombs. How To Do It Join Avalon Waterways' 8-day Bonjour Bordeaux: Chateaux Wineries and Charming Villages voyage, from $4209 per person, including all meals, regional wines and beers (at meal times—plus a daily 'happy hour'), and excursions. To book, visit 15. The Danube The Danube getty Flowing 1,770 miles from Germany's Black Forest to the Black Sea, the Danube is Central Europe's cultural spine—threading through ten countries and four historic capitals—Vienna ( Austria ), Bratislava ( Slovakia ), Budapest ( Hungary ), and Belgrade ( Serbia ). River cruises often start in Budapest, where the river splits the city in two— Buda and Pest —offering postcard-perfect views of the iconic Hungarian Parliament , Chain Bridge , and turreted Buda Castle . In Austria, however, the river glides through the Wachau Valley —a utopia of terraced vineyards, romantic hilltop castles, and blooming apricot orchards, where you can sip crisp Grüner Veltliner in candlelit cellars. In Germany, medieval towns like Regensburg and Passau brim with Gothic spires, storybook townhouses, and charming cobbled squares, while the grand Melk Abbey dazzles with its golden frescoes. Further east, you'll cut through the mighty Iron Gates Gorge , where towering limestone cliffs rise above swirling sapphire waters—one of the great wonders of the world. How To Do It Join Amadeus River Cruises' 7-night Classical Danube Cruise from Budapest to Passau, from $2,454 per person, including all meals, wine and beer (with lunch and dinner). To book, visit Read More: Forbes The Best Danube River Cruises For 2025, According To Experts By Lewis Nunn Forbes The World's Best River Cruise Lines, According To Globe Travel Awards By Lewis Nunn Forbes Why A Douro River Cruise Is The Best Way To See Portugal By Lewis Nunn Forbes Is This The World's Most Expensive Cruise? By Lewis Nunn Forbes The World's Best Luxury Cruise Lines, According To Globe Travel Awards By Lewis Nunn Forbes The Ultimate Guide To South Africa Cruises By Lewis Nunn Forbes Meet The President Of AmaWaterways By Lewis Nunn
CNN
5 hours ago
- CNN
Where the next deadly flood wave could strike
The flash flood that struck the Guadalupe River the early morning hours of July 4 was swift and merciless. A wall of water tore through Texas Hill Country communities, killing more than 130 people. It only took two hours for the flood wave to sweep away campsites, cars and homes, and throw hundreds of families' lives into chaos and grief. The ingredients that led to the Hill Country disaster — steep terrain, swollen rivers and unsuspecting people in harm's way — are not unique to Texas. Across the United States, there are pockets of vulnerability where geography, weather and human nature converge in ways that heighten the risk of flash flooding. Some of these dangers are well-known: canyons and valleys that funnel water into narrow channels, rivers and streams with long histories of overtopping their banks. But others are less obvious — places where people flock for fun and time away from their urban lives, unaware that the same features that make these spots so inviting will also make them deadly in the right storm. To better understand where such disasters could happen next, CNN partnered with First Street, a research organization that specializes in climate risk data, to identify some of the places where vulnerability to sudden, destructive flash floods remains high — and often overlooked. Our analysis does not include all places that could experience something like what Kerr County, Texas, endured in early July. But you can use the interactive map below to explore the river locations most prone to flash flooding, according to a recent study. Helen, Georgia, is an unexpected glimpse of Bavaria. Tucked into the folds of the North Georgia mountains, the Alpine-themed tourist spot cradles the Chattahoochee River. On a hot and humid summer day, few places are more inviting than the cool river, where visitors can float past beer gardens and candy shops in brightly colored inner tubes. While ''tubing the 'hooch,' which on most days trickles through the town at walking pace, it's hard to imagine how just a few inches of rain can turn the same waterway into a roaring torrent in a flash. But the geography that lends the area its charm also carries a quiet threat. 'Helen is located at the base of some of the higher mountains' in Georgia, National Weather Service senior hydrologist Laura Belanger told CNN while standing next to the flood gauge on Main Street. 'This is the same river that runs through Atlanta and all the way down into Columbus and along that Alabama border — it has a long journey, and it starts here.' The Upper Chattahoochee winds through the rainiest counties in Georgia, and the head start comes with consequences. The region's topography and clay-based soil leave little opportunity for water to soak into the ground, she said. 'Instead, it runs off and can flow very quickly into our river systems.' Helen has flooded before, most recently in the remnants of Hurricane Helene, which raised the river's water level by 3 to 6 feet. That pales in comparison to the record flood of 1967, triggered by more than 8 inches of rain falling in 24 hours, causing the Chattahoochee to rise 12 feet. Since then, Helen has transformed from a deserted logging town into the 'Bavaria of the South,' with riverbanks filled with shops, restaurants and cabins — all vulnerable to the next major flood. A flood as big as 1967's today would likely submerge homes and motels, cut off roads and inundate much of the town's infrastructure in 2 to 4 feet of water, according to guidance from the National Weather Service. The stylistic arched bridges built to match the European theme would act as dams in a flood, backing up water and worsening erosion. 'The safety of our citizens and the thousands of visitors who enjoy outdoor activities in and around Helen is our highest priority,' said a spokesperson for White County Public Safety, which is in 'early stages' of enhancing its severe weather warning systems. 'While flooding along the Chattahoochee River is certainly a concern, equally serious threats include lightning, high winds, and other rapidly changing weather conditions that can impact a wide range of outdoor activities — not just river recreation,' the spokesperson said. Belanger is particularly worried about a community on the Hiwassee River, north of Helen, where permanent residential trailers sit near a river gauge that a recent study found was among the most-prone to flash flooding in the country. Regardless of a community's readiness, that many people living that close to a river is a recipe for disaster, Belanger said. 'Those are the places that keep me up at night.' The Nogales Wash originates in the hilly city of Nogales in Sonora, Mexico, then slices a path north through the desert landscape and across the border to its sister city of Nogales, Arizona. The drainage channel, built in the 1930s, lies bone dry for most of the year. It is called into service when the summer monsoon hits. 'These storms are flashy; they drop a lot of water in a very short period of time,' said Allan Sanchez, a floodplain coordinator for Santa Cruz County. It's not uncommon to see the region pummeled by 2.5 inches of rain an hour, he added. A storm like that can overwhelm the wash. Water in the mostly concrete-lined section that runs through Nogales, Arizona, quickly turns from a benign trickle to a dangerous, gushing torrent as rain sweeps down the hills. Flood risk is exacerbated by the area's geography and aging infrastructure. Like many other towns at risk, most of Nogales was built on a floodplain because that was the flattest spot, Sanchez said. The city's population has also swollen over the decades, meaning more roads, houses, roofs and driveways — hard surfaces unable to absorb the rainfall. The problem is complicated by the fact that beneath the Nogales Wash lies a sewage pipeline carrying millions of gallons of untreated waste from Sonora to a treatment plant in Arizona. 'When that thing overtops, then you also have the risk of contamination,' Sanchez said. During monsoon thunderstorms in 2017, floodwaters damaged the pipe, causing raw sewage to pour into the Nogales Wash, prompting the city to declare a state of emergency. High levels of development and the growth of informal communities in the floodplain on the Sonora side puts people in harm's way. The Nogales area is not only a hub for cross-border trade but is one of the busiest spots for illegal border crossings. 'Right where they're crossing is where some of the water is,' Sanchez said. 'Everybody on both sides (of the border) understands the severity of the rainstorms that we get here,' Sanchez said. 'We're all always kind of half an eye to the sky.' He has noticed the storms have become more intense in recent years. Instead of one or two in monsoon season, last year brought multiple powerful storms unleashing large amounts of rainfall in very localized areas, Sanchez said. It's 'something that I wasn't used to seeing, and I've been doing this for 30 years.' It's easy to forget the danger in Santa Barbara County. The sun-drenched coastline, Spanish style architecture and warm, Mediterranean climate offer the illusion of calm. But just behind the serene facade is a landscape built for disaster. Steep terrain, torrential wintertime storms and wildfires combine to put the Santa Barbara coastal watershed at high risk of flash flooding and mudslides, as rainfall screams down canyons carved into the Santa Ynez Mountains. The threat is growing as atmospheric rivers —intense plumes of moisture — coming in off the Pacific Ocean get stronger and wetter. 'We have a long history of flash flooding and debris flows,' and the terrain makes everything worse, said Kelly Hubbard, director of the county's Office of Emergency Management. The mountain slopes tend to erode when saturated, especially after wildfires, resulting in potentially deadly debris flows. Just weeks after the Thomas Fire tore through the hills above Montecito, an intense winter storm dumped several inches of rain in January 2018. The fire-scarred hillsides couldn't withstand the deluge. A wall of mud, boulders and debris thundered through the town as people slept. Twenty-three people were killed and more than 100 homes were destroyed. As the city expands further into the foothills, the risk to residents grows. 'It tends to increase the vulnerability of people in homes when you start building right up against the hills,' said Jayme Laber, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Los Angeles. 'There's only so much flat land you can build on,' Laber said. The area where neighborhoods press up against forests, brush and open terrain — known as the wildland-urban interface — is becoming more prominent in Santa Barbara. It was also a major factor in the destruction wrought by the Los Angeles fires in January. 'You get that increased flood risk and events that come out of the hills directed right towards those homes, buildings, and all that infrastructure that's built right there,' he said. Santa Barbara County uses a patchwork of overlapping tools to warn people of danger: helicopter flyovers; emergency texts and calls; police cars that broadcast special tones, different from a typical siren, that tells residents to sit up and pay attention. Mobile sirens are best here, Hubbard said, since stationary sirens on poles can burn down in a wildfire. There are 6,675 properties at risk of flooding in the next 30 years in Santa Barbara, according to research by First Street; 1,227 in Montecito; 1,970 in Carpinteria. But what keeps Hubbard up at night are the risks she doesn't know yet, like in 2023 when the county 'saw flooding in places we've never seen flooding before, and it took us a little bit by surprise.' 'What scares me the most is how it continues to change,' Hubbard said. 'It's really for something that for hundreds of years has been rather predictable. It's becoming unpredictable.' The picturesque Catskill Mountains, north of New York City, are lush with rolling hills and winding streams. But the scenery belies significant flood vulnerabilities. One such risky region is in Delaware County and stretches from around Margaretville to Pine Hill. The small community of Fleischmanns, population of about 230, has an 'extreme' risk of flooding, according to First Street's modeling. Fleischmanns is vulnerable to river flooding and inundation from excessive precipitation, which is worsening as the climate continues to warm. Tropical Storm Irene brought severe flooding to the region in August 2011. Delaware County ranks highest of any county in the state for federal disaster declarations since 1954, according to Steve Hood, director of emergency management for the county. The majority of those declarations were for flooding, and a recent assessment of the threats the county faces put flooding at the top of the list, he said. Hood told CNN many flash floods there don't get into population centers as the region is sparsely populated, with river flooding constituting a somewhat bigger threat for the villages and towns. The county lacks a siren system after a request to fully fund one hit a dead end in 2015, Hood said. That system would have warned areas downstream of two reservoirs; instead, officials rely on New York Alert, which is a state-run notification system, and reverse 911 to warn citizens of impending floodwaters, Hood said. Tim Brewster, a hydrologist at the National Weather Service in Binghamton, New York, said Delaware County is a major flash flood hot spot within its forecast area — and terrain is the key factor. 'It's got really steep slopes and fast-draining, small river basins,' he said, which can lead to flash flooding from slow-moving thunderstorms, for example. Forecasters are mindful of the significant influx of people during the summer who come to the county to escape the heat in the big cities along the East Coast, Brewster said, adding there are many summer camps located throughout the region. This gives it a similarity to Texas Hill Country. 'We definitely have to have a heightened sense of awareness of that population influx,' he said. The Yadkin River and its tributaries in northwest North Carolina — surrounded by forests and dotted with vineyards — are no strangers to flash floods. But even the damage wrought by Hurricane Helene last year pales in comparison to the history of flooding in this scenic stretch of foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Elkin sits at the confluence of the Big Elkin Creek and the Yadkin River, which winds more than 200 miles through the state to the Atlantic Coast. The town is prone to intense storms, as warm, moist air from the Atlantic is drawn into the higher terrain, which can supercharge impacts. Steep-sided, narrow valleys funnel rain into the waterways below, causing them to rapidly swell and overflow. When Hurricane Helene carved its 500-mile path of destruction from Florida to the Southern Appalachians in September 2024, Elkin and its neighboring towns — Wilkesboro, Ronda, Jonesville — were in its way. Elkin was spared the deadly destruction wrought in other parts of the state, but the Yadkin River rose 22 feet, inundating homes and businesses, leaving roads underwater and swamping pickleball courts. It took Jim Neese a week to clean up his campground, Riverwalk RV Park, nestled along the river, after Helene left it swimming in a muddy swirl of floodwater. Floods are a part of life here, he told CNN. 'Anytime you get bad weather, you think about it.' They do tend to be foreseeable, he added: 'You see it coming and you know (the river is) rising… We keep an eye on everything. I watch three or four different apps.' Vigilance is important; the town is vulnerable to much more catastrophic flooding. Elkin was one of the many areas affected when a one-two punch of tropical cyclones led to a devastating flood in 1916. Then in 1940, the Yadkin River reached 37.5 feet, its highest crest on record, when the remnants of a hurricane pummeled parts of the river basin with more than 8 inches of rain, causing extensive damage to the town. The Yadkin River is better protected today, in part due to the W. Kerr Scott dam, built in 1962 just upstream from Wilkesboro by the US Army Corps of Engineers, said Nick Fillo, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, Virginia. It absorbs a lot of the runoff and holds back water, he told CNN. 'In order to see another flood like we saw in 1940 or 1916 we would need much, much more rain.' For now, people in this tight-knit community feel prepared for the flooding that punctuates their lives. But Helene has shown they cannot be complacent. 'When we see something coming, it is a concern,' said Brent Cornelison, Elkin's town manager. 'And after Helene, it will be a much larger concern.' Freedman reported from Washington, DC. O'Kruk reported from New York. Ory reported from Atlanta. Paddison reported from London. Miller and Weir reported from Helen, Georgia. Angela Fritz contributed reporting from Washington, DC.
Washington Post
6 hours ago
- Washington Post
U.S. drops to lowest ranking yet on index of most powerful passports
Americans once held the world's most powerful key to international travel, but in the latest edition of the Henley Passport Index released this week, U.S. passports dropped to their lowest position yet, outranked by affluent Asian countries that dominated the top of the list, European mainstays and others. According to the Henley ranking, which is based on the number of destinations a traveler can visit without needing a visa, the United States has fallen from seventh place last year to 10th place, continuing a downward trend. Now tied with Iceland and Lithuania, the U.S. last topped the list in 2014.
