Phoenix - An earthen dam weakened by heavy rains broke near the Grand Canyon early Sunday, flooding a tribal town and forcing officials to pluck hundreds of residents and campers from the gorge by helicopter. No injuries were immediately reported.

About 400 members of the Havasupai tribe live in the town of Supai. The town was not under water after the Redlands Dam broke, said Grand Canyon National Park spokeswoman Maureen Oltrogge.

Some campers and river runners in the canyon were being rescued by seven helicopters and were being taken to a Red Cross shelter in Peach Springs, about 60 miles southwest of Supai, Oltrogge said



A flash flood warning was in effect for the area.

Supai is on Havasu Creek about 30 miles northwest of Grand Canyon Village, a popular tourist area on the canyon's south rim. The creek feeds the Colorado River, which runs the length of the canyon.