One person has died and around 15 others remain missing or unaccounted for after a flash flood swept through the Grand Canyon in Arizona, forcing the airlift of dozens of hikers and campers.
The National Park Service said the flooding struck Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area at about 2.30pm local time on Saturday, destroying footbridges and carrying boulders, metal structures and other debris into the Colorado River.
More than 60 people were evacuated from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail, with further helicopter evacuations carried out from Cottonwood Campground. The evacuees were taken to the South Rim, where the American Red Cross was helping to provide assistance.
The park service initially appealed for information about more than 20 people who might have been in the affected area. In a later update, it said it was seeking information on approximately 15 individuals who may still be missing or unaccounted for.
The National Park Service said one person had been recovered from the river and died. The identity of the deceased had not been released.
Erica Viola, who was camping at Bright Angel Campground, was among those forced to flee as the water rose. She and other visitors were later airlifted to safety, while footage showed floodwater carrying structures and equipment towards the river.
Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground and the entire North Kaibab Trail have been closed until further notice. The Black Bridge and Silver Bridge crossings have also been shut, while river traffic through the area has been suspended because of debris in the Colorado.
The flooding damaged the Transcanyon Waterline, which supplies water to the park. Officials said overnight accommodation on the South Rim would be halted from Monday, August 31, as the park introduced major water conservation measures.
The National Park Service warned that further thunderstorms and heavy rain could bring additional flash flooding, debris flows and rockfalls. Anyone with information about hikers or backpackers in the Bright Angel Creek corridor on August 29 has been asked to contact its Investigative Services Branch.
