Raging San Juan River Rips Building Apart as Record Flood Hits Pagosa Springs

Pagosa Springs, United States – The swollen San Juan River tore a building from its foundations and smashed it apart as historic flooding hit Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

Footage filmed by Ben Dozier shows the brown, churning river spreading through trees and around houses on its banks. A green-roofed building is then seen breaking up in the torrent, sending up a burst of spray as it hits a bridge downstream.

The San Juan River rose to nearly 17 feet, its highest level since 1911, after days of heavy rain in southwest Colorado. Downtown Pagosa Springs was placed under evacuation orders, and floodwater washed away ground beneath the Pagosa Springs Museum, forcing the closure of the US 160 bridge in town.

Authorities said there was no firm count yet of the buildings washed away. Ben Dozier is working on setting up a fundraiser to help families devastated by the flood.