What caused the levee breach near Seattle on Monday?

The levee breach was caused by a section of the earthen levee failing after a week of heavy rainfall saturated the ground.

Which suburbs were affected by the evacuation order due to the Green River levee breach?

Evacuation orders affected parts of Kent, Renton, and Tukwila, impacting approximately 1,100 homes and businesses.

When are long-term repairs expected for the Desimone levee damaged in Seattle?

Long-term repairs for the Desimone levee, which was also damaged in 2020, are not expected to be completed until 2031.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Levee Breach Near Seattle: Evacuations Ordered After Heavy Rains

Levee Breach Near Seattle: Evacuations Ordered After Heavy Rains

16 Dec, 2025

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Summary

A section of an earthen levee failed south of Seattle after a week of heavy rain.
An evacuation order affected about 1,100 homes and businesses near the Green River.
Crews were actively working on the levee when the breach occurred, citing saturation concerns.

Levee Breach Near Seattle: Evacuations Ordered After Heavy Rains

Following a week of relentless heavy rains, a section of an earthen levee south of Seattle failed on Monday. The breach occurred along the Desimone levee beside the Green River, prompting emergency management to issue an evacuation order for approximately 1,100 homes and businesses. This affected parts of the suburbs Kent, Renton, and Tukwila, with initial flash flood warnings covering a significant population before being reduced.

Authorities reported that no injuries occurred and that the flooding was largely contained to industrial zones. Crews were already on-site performing maintenance and installing a "seepage blanket" due to concerns about the levee's saturation from prolonged high water levels. They were present when the failure happened, highlighting the stress on the aging infrastructure.