According to the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), a major flash flood occurred on Saturday afternoon in the Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch areas of Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. As of Sunday morning, 62 people had been evacuated. The flood carried large boulders, metal structures, and other debris into the Colorado River flowing through the park.
In an NPS statement, approximately 15 individuals are believed to be missing or have unverified whereabouts following the flash flood. The agency has appealed to the public for information about these people.
Floodwaters from Bright Angel Creek, which flows into the Colorado River, swept away footbridges crossing the creek and significantly altered the terrain, widening the streambed and creating a new rapid on the river. Popular tourist sites such as Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch, and a portion of the North Kaibab Trail remain closed while park staff assess damage. Colorado River rafting trips have also been suspended.
A visitor named Parth Desai, who was hiking through a narrow section of Bright Angel Canyon with a group of doctors and a park ranger when heavy rain hit, told the Associated Press: “We saw the creek rise, waterfalls appearing out of nowhere; boulders, mud, landslides happening everywhere.”
Jack Schmidt, director of the Colorado River Research Center at Utah State University, told AP: “This is a reminder of a Grand Canyon landscape that is always changing and powerful.”
The NPS said it is coordinating with the Arizona Department of Public Safety to continue evacuations on Sunday. No injuries have been reported. Weather officials forecast possible additional rain and thunderstorms in the area through Monday.
