A man of approximately 33 years old was found dead early Tuesday morning inside a car submerged by floodwaters in Snohomish County, northeast of Seattle, local authorities reported. This is the first confirmed death after several days of heavy rain that has triggered mass evacuations and emergency rescues in the region. According to the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, the driver ignored warning signs placed along the road and ended up with his vehicle in a ditch approximately 1.8 meters deep. Rescuers attempted rescue maneuvers, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities warn of the danger of driving in flooded areas

During a damage assessment, the regional fire and rescue battalion chief, Jamal Beckham, warned that many of the emergencies handled in recent days involved drivers attempting to cross flooded roads.

“They didn't understand how quickly the water rises. We've pulled people off the roofs of their cars. If we hadn't arrived, those vehicles would have been completely submerged,” Beckham noted.

Rescue teams have also assisted residents who refused to evacuate despite official warnings and whose homes ended up flooded.

New evacuations due to slighte breaches

The emergency intensified early Tuesday morning after a slighte breached in King County, forcing the evacuation of At least 220 homes in the city of Pacific, south of Seattle, were affected. Police urged residents to evacuate the area immediately due to the risk of flash flooding from the overflowing White River. The US Army Corps of Engineers is working with local authorities to assess the damage and reinforce defenses with sandbags and temporary barriers. Risks persist despite receding water levels. Although water levels have begun to drop in some areas, Authorities warned that the danger has not passed, due to the possibility of further rain, landslides, and structural failures in slightly weakened areas. The flooding, caused by an unusually intense atmospheric river, has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in Washington state and has caused significant damage to communities, roads, and agricultural areas.