Yellowstone National Park in the United States has had to close during the summer for the first time in more than 30 years. Days of rainfall have set off mudslides that damaged all five entrances to the park. The park closed for the last time in the summer in 1988, at the time due to forest fires.
Park officials warn of falling rocks, mudslides and “extremely dangerous conditions” in the park. Roads and bridges have been washed away and electricity has been cut in many places.
In any case, the park will remain closed until Wednesday, authorities say. Evacuations are being organized for visitors and workers who were already in the park when the storm started. There are no reports of injuries yet.
The region is dealing with an unprecedented wet spring. Temperatures have also skyrocketed in recent days, causing snow on the highest peaks in the park to melt faster than expected. Water in the Yellowstone River near Corwin Springs reached a depth of 4.2 meters on Monday, beating the old record of 3.5 meters set in 1918, the National Weather Service reported.
The busy summer season had just begun. Yellowstone receives about four million visitors every year. Whether the park can reopen after Wednesday will depend on the damage suffered, park ranger Cam Sholly said in a statement. “We can’t say anything about that until the water has subsided and we have been able to assess the damage throughout the park,” said Sholly.
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