A small Utah town has been devastated after a earthen dam broke during heavy rains on Tuesday, sending a surge of flood waters into dozens of homes and some businesses.

KSL reports a breach in a retention basin dam caused the surge of water to flow into a Santa Clara neighborhood.

View slideshow: Dam breaks in Utah, sending flood waters through small town
According to the National Weather Service, more than three inches of rain fell on the small canyon area of Ivins early Tuesday, near the town of Santa Clara, and the runoff drained into a dry wash, forcing pressure on the dam.