An urgent search is under way in the Grand Canyon after a flash flood swept through Bright Angel Canyon, with about 15 people still unaccounted for and dozens of hikers airlifted to safety.
The flooding struck near Bright Angel Creek and Phantom Ranch in Arizona on Saturday afternoon, sending torrents of muddy water and debris through the canyon. The National Park Service said 62 people had been evacuated from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail by Sunday morning.
A 46-year-old man was later found dead near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River, according to park officials. Around 15 people remained unaccounted for as rescue teams continued efforts to establish who was in the affected area.
The National Park Service has appealed for information about hikers, backpackers and campers who were travelling through the Bright Angel Creek corridor, staying at Bright Angel Campground or using the North Kaibab Trail.
Survivors described rapidly rising water, landslides and large boulders being swept through the narrow canyon. Several hikers reached higher ground before being taken out by helicopter, while further evacuations were arranged with the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Nearly all the footbridges across Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, cutting off parts of the trail. The flood also carried metal structures and other debris into the Colorado River, which has been closed to river traffic until further notice.
Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, the Phantom Ranch canteen and cabins, and the North Kaibab Trail are closed indefinitely. The Black Bridge and Silver Bridge, which cross the Colorado River, have also been shut.
The flooding damaged the Transcanyon Waterline, the park’s main water supply system. Officials said overnight accommodation at Grand Canyon National Park would close from Monday, while visitors and residents were urged to conserve water.
Further thunderstorms and heavy rain were forecast for the area, raising the risk of additional flash flooding, debris flows and rockfalls while park staff assess the damage.
