Rock slide deaths at Yosemite National Park lead to closures - NBC News

Two radical died successful a stone descent earlier this week astatine the Yosemite National Park, according to the section region sheriff’s office. 

On Tuesday, the Yosemite National Park announced that the El Portal Road, a continuation of Highway 140 into the Yosemite Valley from El Portal, has been closed owed to “significant rockfall.” The entranceway was reopened astir 6 hours later.

The Mariposa County’s Sheriff Office did not instantly respond to NBC News, but according to the Associated Press, section authorities person identified the victims arsenic Georgios Theocharous, 51 and Ming Yan, 35. Both are a joined mates from San Jose.

On Friday evening, the parkland announced different closure astatine Big Oak Flat Road, eastbound of Foresta, owed to different rockfall incident. 

In the aboriginal greeting of Dec. 12, Big Oak Flat Road was besides closed aft being deed by a rockslide, blocking entree to Yosemite Valley via Highway 120 from the west. The rockslide resulted successful a several-day closure to wide and repair the road.

As of Saturday morning, Big Oak Flat Road remains closed. The Mariposa County’s Sheriff Office has yet to respond if determination are immoderate reports of fatalities oregon injuries to Friday’s rockslide.

According to the Yosemite National Park, though uncommon, the Yosemite Valley tin acquisition galore rockfalls each year. In 2021, the parkland recorded 47 rockfalls successful the valley.

According to the U.S. National Park Service, the Yosemite National Park welcomed 3.3 cardinal visitors successful 2021, making it 1 retired of the 25 astir visited nationalist parks successful the nation.