BREAKING NEWS: Dam break in Washington triggers life-threatening flash flood emergency

Levee Breach on Green River Triggers Life-Threatening Flash Flood Emergency in Washington State

Tukwila, Wash. — December 15, 2025

A major levee breach along the Green River south of Seattle has sparked a life-threatening flash flood emergency in King County, forcing urgent evacuations and heightening fears in communities still reeling from days of relentless heavy rain.The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning at 11:51 a.m. PST after county dispatch reported the failure of the Green River levee near Auburn. Officials described the situation as a "dam break," with flash flooding already underway and posing a "considerable" damage threat. Water levels are rising rapidly, threatening low-lying areas in Tukwila, Kent, Renton, and Auburn.

Developing...

17GEN4.com

Residents east of the Green River in the Orillia area received Level 3 ("Go Now") evacuation notices, with authorities urging people to move to higher ground immediately, heading north or south to avoid inundated roads. Emergency alerts were sent to thousands, and shelters have been opened in nearby communities.The breach comes amid a prolonged atmospheric river event that has battered western Washington since early December, dumping inches of rain on already saturated ground. This latest incident exacerbates historic flooding that earlier crested rivers like the Skagit and Snohomish at record levels, displacing tens of thousands and prompting a statewide emergency declaration by Governor Bob Ferguson on December 10.

Meteorologists warn that additional rainfall could prolong the crisis, with renewed flooding possible on rivers still at major stages. No fatalities have been reported from today's breach, but emergency crews are conducting rescues and monitoring infrastructure closely.