Two people died in a rock slide in Yosemite National Park earlier this week, according to the local county sheriff’s office.
On Tuesday, Yosemite National Park announced that El Portal Road, the continuation of Highway 140 from El Portal into Yosemite Valley, has been closed due to “significant rockfall.” After about 6 hours, the entrance was opened.
The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to NBC News, but local authorities have identified the victims as Georgios Theocharos, 51, and Ming Yan, 35, according to the Associated Press. Both are a married couple from San Jose.
On Friday evening, the park announced another closure on Big Oak Flat Road, east of Foresta, due to another rock fall.
On the morning of December 12, Big Oak Flat Road was also closed after a boulder struck it, blocking access to Yosemite Valley via Highway 120 from the west. The road was closed for a few days due to the stone fall.
As of Saturday morning, Big Oak Flat Road remains closed. The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office has not responded to any reports of death or injuries from Friday’s rockfall.
Although uncommon, Yosemite Valley can experience multiple rockfalls each year, according to Yosemite National Park. In 2021, the park recorded 47 rockfalls in the valley.
According to the US National Park Service, Yosemite National Park welcomed 3.3 million visitors in 2021, making it one of the 25 most visited national parks in the nation.