More than 20 people are missing after a severe flash flood swept through the Grand Canyon in Arizona on Saturday afternoon.
The National Park Service requested urgent information from the public regarding the missing individuals, who have not been heard from since the high waters hit. Emergency officials reported that the flooding began at approximately 2:30 p.m. local time on Saturday.
The sudden wall of water struck Bright Angel Canyon and the sector around Phantom Ranch, a rustic accommodation site located at the bottom of the canyon near the Colorado River. Park authorities confirmed that the deluge caused widespread and significant damage to infrastructure throughout the entire Bright Angel Canyon area.
Nearly all footbridges crossing Bright Angel Creek were swept away or destroyed by the flooding. The loss of these essential crossings completely cut off access for hikers seeking to cross from one side of the creek to the other, stranding people in remote canyon locations.
Search and rescue efforts
Park rangers worked on Sunday in close coordination with Arizona state authorities to evacuate individuals trapped inside the canyon and to search for those who are missing. Emergency crews have been navigating the steep terrain to reach impacted hiking areas.
Grand Canyon National Park is located in northern Arizona and is managed by the National Park Service, a United States federal agency that oversees national parks and monuments. The Grand Canyon itself is a massive natural gorge carved over millions of years by the Colorado River. Phantom Ranch, situated along the canyon floor, serves as the primary overnight destination for hikers traveling along the famous Bright Angel Trail from the canyon rim down to the river. In the arid environment of the American Southwest, heavy rainfall on surrounding plateaus can rapidly channel into narrow tributary gorges like Bright Angel Canyon, creating swift and dangerous flash floods.
Ongoing weather threats
The National Park Service warned visitors and emergency personnel that further thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are possible throughout Sunday and Monday. Officials cautioned that these forecasted weather conditions could trigger additional flash floods across the canyon network, complicating ongoing rescue operations.
