At Least Two Dead in Grand Canyon Flooding; More Than 20 May Be Missing

National Park Service

Aftermath of flash flooding at the Grand Canyon.

At least two people were killed and more than 20 others remained unaccounted for after flash flooding struck the Grand Canyon in Arizona over the weekend, forcing the evacuation of dozens of hikers by helicopter, the U.S. National Park Service said.

Heavy rainfall on Saturday sent a torrent of mud, boulders and debris through Bright Angel Creek, a major side canyon running from the park’s North Rim to the Colorado River. The flooding swept away trails, footbridges and other infrastructure.

On Monday, the National Park Service confirmed that the bodies of two flood victims had been recovered. One was identified as a 46-year-old man whose remains were found on Sunday, while search and recovery operations continued along the canyon floor.

The exact number of people still missing remained unclear two days after heavy rainfall transformed the Bright Angel Creek area into a raging torrent. However, the Park Service said in a social media post on Sunday that it was seeking “information about more than 20 individuals who may be missing or unaccounted for” following Saturday’s flooding.

As of Sunday morning, 62 people had been evacuated from Phantom Ranch, a historic lodge and campground near the confluence of Bright Angel Creek and the Colorado River, as well as from the North Kaibab Trail, which follows the creek through the canyon floor, according to the Park Service.

"The flooding caused extensive damage to infrastructure in the inner canyon, including the Transcanyon Waterline, which supplies water from the canyon for use in the park," the Park Service said.

With the system temporarily knocked out of operation, the ‌park ⁠was left with limited water reserves, requiring significant conservation measures for park facilities, according to the agency.

The popular South Rim of the park remained open to the public during the day on Monday, but overnight accommodations and other concessions were closed, with additional thunderstorms expected early this week.

The Grand Canyon ranks as one of the crown jewels of the U.S. national park system, drawing some 4.4 million visitors last year.



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