Tukwila's Levee Crisis: Flooding Prompts Evacuations

Tue Dec 16 2025 19:23:49 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Heavy rainfall caused a levee breach in Tukwila, Washington, leading to evacuation orders for thousands. Crews are on site with sandbags to mitigate flooding risks.

After significant rainfall, a levee breach in Tukwila, Washington has prompted evacuation orders for about 1,100 homes across Kent, Renton, and Tukwila. No injuries have been reported, but extensive measures, including sandbags, are being employed to manage the situation. Officials continue to monitor the levee's integrity as the threat of flooding remains.

TUKWILA, Wash. (AP) — Crews have rushed to shore up a levee breached by flooding in Tukwila, south of Seattle, following heavy rains that led authorities to issue evacuation orders for over 1,000 homes in nearby suburbs.

The affected area includes parts of Kent, Renton, and Tukwila, with evacuation orders shared by King County's emergency management office. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries.

Despite the flooding, officials clarified that residential evacuations were not necessary for all affected areas, as the flooding remained contained to industrial zones.

In response to ongoing concerns, authorities have placed sandbags to stabilize the levee while monitoring the risk of additional flooding. Officials from the National Weather Service have continuously updated the flood warning zone as they learn more about flood risks and impacts.

This levee breach follows a history of flooding concerns in the region, with repairs on the levee that were meant to be completed by 2031 still ongoing after significant damage in 2020.