Yosemite National Park announced road closures earlier this week after two people died in a rock slide, according to the local county sheriff’s office.
The Mariposa County’s Sheriff Office did not immediately respond to NBC News, but according to the Associated Press, local authorities have identified the victims as Georgios Theocharous, 51 and Ming Yan, 35. Both are a married couple from San Jose.another closure at Big Oak Flat Road, east of Foresta, due to another rockfall incident.after being hit by a rockslide, blocking access to Yosemite Valley via Highway 120 from the west.
As of Saturday morning, Big Oak Flat Road remains closed. The Mariposa County’s Sheriff Office has yet to respond if there are any reports of fatalities or injuries to Friday’s rockslide., although uncommon, the Yosemite Valley can experience numerous rockfalls each year. In 2021, the park recorded 47 rockfalls in the valley.
According to the U.S. National Park Service, the Yosemite National Park welcomed 3.3 million visitors in 2021, making it one out of the 25 most visited national parks in the nation.