YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) -- Climber in Yosemite National Park says a second rock slide was easily "three times the size" of a massive rock fall a day earlier that killed a British climber.
Ken Yager of the Yosemite Climbing Association said Thursday's rock fall was larger than the one a day before on the iconic rock formation.
RELATED: One dead, one injured inrock fallat Yosemite's El Capitan
Yager says he witnessed a large cloud of dust and heard sirens. Images show a huge plume of dust in the wake of the rock fall. He says traffic on a road near the base of El Capitan has stopped.
Just witnessed the latest rock fall at the base of #ElCapitan #Yosemite. Please credit me if you use this, apologies for the swearing... pic.twitter.com/0y573GV6z0
— Joseph Moring (@DrBadger) September 29, 2017
Ryan Sheridan had just reached the top of El Capitan when Thursday's slide let loose below him.
He told The Associated Press that "there was so much smoke and debris" and clouds of dust filled the entire valley below.
He said Thursday's rock slide happened in the same location as the one on Wednesday at the El Capitan rock formation.
Yosemite National Park officials say they have closed one of the exit routes from the park after a new rock fall from El Capitan.
The park records about 80 rock falls per year, though they are rarely fatal.
#BREAKING terrifying video from climbers on El Capitan looking down on the second rockfall in 24 hours at #Yosemite: https://t.co/uZUAEE1Go8 pic.twitter.com/KbOpK5kLnY
— Derek Schnell (@DerekKCRA) September 28, 2017
#BREAKING a terrifying view of a massive NEW rock fall at El Capitan in #Yosemite this afternoon from Ryan Sheridan: https://t.co/8oa7qtWiof pic.twitter.com/aGUu6hRKva
— Derek Schnell (@DerekKCRA) September 28, 2017
Another #rockslide at #Yosemite. Trying to exit park, thought this was fog. pic.twitter.com/EThe3AUXrJ
— Tamara (@wherestamara) September 28, 2017
Massive #rockslide in #yosemite photo from the tunnel viewpoint (left in photo originating from el Capitan) pic.twitter.com/hLKd4zncr6
— langley dewitt (@langleydew) September 29, 2017
#BREAKING: Another rock fall near #ElCapitan in @YosemiteNPS. My photographer and I witnessed the whole ordeal, it was so loud, thunderous. pic.twitter.com/6J3xmieMet
— Connie Tran (@MissConnieTran) September 28, 2017
