A rock slide Wednesday along a popular Yosemite National Park climbing route left one person dead and another injured, according to a park ranger.
The slide occurred just before 2 p.m. on the popular Waterfall Route on the East Buttress of El Capitan, Yosemite spokesman Ranger Scott Gediman said.
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Park rangers were using helicopters to search the area for more potential victims. Gediman didn't know the exact number of climbers on or near the route, but he said at least 30 climbers were on the wall at the time of the slide.
He said it is the heart of climbing season at Yosemite, and there are typically many climbers on El Capitan and other climbing routes throughout the park during this time of year.
Officials didn't say how large the rock fall was, but climbers posted pictures on social media from hundreds of feet up the wall showing a large billow of white dust moments after the crash.
The identities of the victims were not immediately released.
Local
The park remained open, and visitor services were not affected.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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