At Least 18 Killed in River Accident

A flash flood apparently trapped adventurers in a mountain stream in the Swiss Alps, killing 18 people, Bern state police said. Six people were injured. At least one person was still missing and feared dead. Bodies were discovered floating into Lake Brienz near the picturesque central resort town of Interlaken. The accident is believed to be the worst ever for the sport of canyoning, in which participants wearing wetsuits and helmets slide, jump or rappel down waterfalls and mountain streams into gorges without rafts. Swiss officials were quoted as saying that an unknown number of Americans were among the victims. Other victims came from Britain, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.