Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The flood waters hit the bathers with almost no warning

At least nine people from one family have been killed in flash floods after monsoon-like rains swept through a swimming hole in the US state of Arizona, local media say.

At least 40 rescuers are searching for a 27-year-old man whose wife perished.

More than 100 people were bathing in the area when the muddy floodwaters hit with almost no warning.

The flash flood struck at Cold Springs, near Payson, on Saturday, sweeping people down East Verde River.

Search and rescue crews have recovered the bodies of nine victims, some of whom were found up to two miles down the river.

Four others - a married couple and their two young children - were rescued by helicopter crews and treated for hypothermia.

Dozens were bathing in the Tonto National Forest, about 90m (145km) north of Phoenix, when the floodwaters hit following a torrential downpour upstream, said Sgt David Hornung from the Gila County sheriff's office.

"A large family group was down by the river recreating... It's a recreation area that a lot of people come up to - and the flash flood came through and washed 14 people away from the camp," Sgt Hornung said.

"I've been with the sheriff's office for 13 years and this is the most severe flooding incident we've ever seen," he added.

Video footage posted on social media showed muddy floodwater gushing over rocks and through deep canyons.

The Payson Fire Department said that multiple forest fires in recent months had created piles of debris that burst down a creek, carrying ash-filled water through the swimming hole.

However, it had not been raining in the area where people were swimming.

Officials identified the dead on Monday.

They named one of the victims as Maria Raya, 27, who died a day before her birthday along with her children - Emily, three, Mia, five, and Danial, seven.

Her sister Maribel Raya, 24, and brother Javier Raya, 19, perished, they said, as well as Maribel's daughter Erica, two.

Selia Garcia, 57, the mother of Maria, Maribel and Javier, also died, as did her grandson Jonathan Leon, 13.

All nine were from Phoenix, Arizona.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Rescuers with dogs searched for those washed away

Maria's husband Hector Miguel Garnica is yet to be located, and is feared to have died alongside his family.

His sister Carla Garnica, 22, was quoted as saying: "He has to be found. He's always said, 'I'm never leaving my children or my wife.' He has to complete his promise."

The Gila County Sheriff's Office said relatives of the missing family drove to the area to search for them into the early hours of Sunday.

Maria Mandujano, a cousin of the Raya siblings, said the searchers waded through knee-deep water shouting her loved ones' names.

They found one of the children's bodies amid the debris, she said.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood alert for much of Arizona until Monday evening, with more storms expected in the middle of next week.</s>Flash flooding that swept over a swimming hole near Payson, Arizona has left at least eight people dead with several still missing, authorities said Sunday.

Sheriff's office staff responded to an emergency call after the flooding at the Cold Springs Swimming Hole, said J. Adam Shepherd of the Gila county sheriff's office.

"Eight individuals have been confirmed deceased and search operations continue for remaining missing individuals," Shepherd said in a statement, without specifying how many people were still unaccounted for.

A flash flood warning was in effect for southeast Arizona until Monday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

According to the Arizona Emergency Information Network, flash flooding has claimed at least 40 lives in the state since 1996, more than any other storm-related hazard.</s>TONTO NATIONAL FOREST, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona sheriff: 9 dead in flash flood in Tonto National Forest, only one believed still missing.</s>TONTO NATIONAL FOREST, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona sheriff’s office says at least 7 dead in flash flooding; search for missing continues.</s>PAYSON, Ariz. — Seven people are dead and three others missing after flash flooding swept away a family at a swimming hole in central Arizona, police say.

Fourteen family members were near the Cold Springs Swimming Hole on Saturday afternoon when heavy rains caused flash floods, Hornung said. Four family members were rescued Saturday afternoon, Sgt. David Hornung with the Gila County Sheriff’s Department.

At least two of the dead were children, said Hornung.

Cold Springs is just north of Payson in Gila County, and about 90 miles north of Phoenix.

CNN affiliate ABC 15, KNXV, in Phoenix tweeted a photo showing the conditions in the area.

A search and rescue mission was underway for the missing family members. The Gila County Sheriff’s Office, Tonto Rim Search and Rescue, Arizona Department of Public Safety Ranger Helicopter, Whispering Pines Fire Department and US Forest Service participated in the effort.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for much of Arizona, including the greater Phoenix area, through Monday evening. Monsoon storms are expected into the middle of the week.</s>PHOENIX
• At least nine people drowned while swimming in an Arizona river in the United States when they became overwhelmed by flash flooding following heavy rains in the drought-stricken region, officials said on Sunday.

The authorities were searching for at least one other missing person after the incident last Saturday afternoon in the Verde River near Payson, about 145km north-east of Phoenix, Water Wheel Fire and Medical District fire chief Ron Sattelmaier said.

Local media reported that at least two children were among the dead.

The Gila County Sheriff's Office did not give details of the dead or those missing.

A search-and-rescue operation was under way, involving sheriff's deputies and the Arizona Department of Public Safety Ranger Helicopter, as well as members of the local Whispering Pines Fire Department and US Forest Service, Sheriff Adam Shepherd said in a statement.

The victims were enjoying the relatively cool temperatures north of Payson on a day trip, said Sheriff's Office spokesman David Hornung, adding that the area is a popular getaway for people from southern Arizona. He referred to the gathering as a "family group", though he said some members of the party were not related.

The storm hit on Saturday, the first day of the region's monsoon season, which lasts from mid-July till September. Flash flooding is common in Arizona during those months.

The state's low-lying roads and dry rivers and creek beds are particularly vulnerable to sudden downpours, with vegetation too sparse to slow the water's sudden onset.

Along with the flooding, last Saturday's storm caused several power failures, leaving thousands of people without electricity.

The National Weather Service in Phoenix said that most of Arizona was under flash-flood watch until yesterday evening.</s>PHOENIX, July 16 (Reuters) – At least eight people drowned while swimming in an Arizona river when the group was overwhelmed by flash flooding that followed heavy rains in the drought-stricken region, the local sheriff’s office said on Sunday.

Authorities were searching for others missing after the incident on Saturday afternoon in the Verde River near Payson, about 90 miles (145 km) northeast of Phoenix, the Gila County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Local media reported that at least two children were among the dead. The sheriff’s office did not give details of the deceased or those missing.

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Sheriff J. Adam Shepherd said in the statement that a search-and-rescue operation was underway involving sheriff’s deputies and the Arizona Department of Public Safety Ranger Helicopter, as well as members of the local Whispering Pines Fire Department and U.S. Forest Service.

There was also concern over possible flash flooding in southern Arizona, as well.

The National Weather Service in Phoenix said that most of Arizona was under flash flood watch until Monday evening, warning that “heavy rains can produce flash flooding of low lying, normally dry areas such as washes.”</s>At least eight people drowned while swimming in an Arizona river when the group was overwhelmed by flash flooding that followed heavy rains in the drought-stricken region, the local sheriff’s office said Sunday.

PHOENIX — At least eight people drowned while swimming in an Arizona river when the group was overwhelmed by flash flooding that followed heavy rains in the drought-stricken region, the local sheriff’s office said Sunday.

Authorities were searching for others missing after the incident on Saturday afternoon in the Verde River near Payson, about 90 miles northeast of Phoenix, the Gila County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Local media reported that at least two children were among the dead. The sheriff’s office did not give details of the deceased or those missing.

Sheriff J. Adam Shepherd said in the statement that a search-and-rescue operation was underway involving sheriff’s deputies and the Arizona Department of Public Safety Ranger Helicopter, as well as members of the local Whispering Pines Fire Department and U.S. Forest Service.

There was also concern over possible flash flooding in southern Arizona, as well.

The National Weather Service in Phoenix said that most of Arizona was under flash flood watch until Monday evening, warning that “heavy rains can produce flash flooding of low lying, normally dry areas such as washes.”</s>Seven people are dead, including at least two children, and three others were missing on Sunday after a flash flood swept through an Arizona swimming hole.

Gila County Sheriff's Office said officers received a 911 call around 3:20 p.m. Saturday about a search-and-rescue at Cold Springs swimming hole near Payson. A storm caused the flash flood, sweeping 14 people down East Verde River.

Four bodies were recovered overnight, including two children, Fox 10 reported, citing the sheriff's office. Crews discovered three more bodies by Sunday afternoon.

Four campers also were found alive. Search crews continued looking for the three missing people on Sunday.

Click here for more from Fox 10 Phoenix.</s>A flash flood in Arizona killed at least eight people on Saturday, with authorities saying search operations were continuing.

The flood hit a popular recreation area, the Cold Springs Swimming Hole in the Tonto National Forest, situated north of the town of Payson, Ariz. and about 90 miles north of Phoenix. Several people were reported missing, the Gila County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday. The sheriff’s office said it responded to an emergency call around 3:19 p.m. Saturday.

Russ Shumate, acting state forester for the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, said a group of about 15 people were at the watering hole when the floods hit. He didn’t have updated numbers of missing but said the state would take over the search operation on Monday.

The state was struck by monsoon storms on Saturday, bringing hail, torrential rains and high winds to the Payson area.

An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.

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A flash flood near Payson, Arizona, leaves at least nine people dead and one person missing, according to the Gila County Sheriff's Office.