Search and rescue operations remain active at the Grand Canyon following a sudden flash flood over the weekend that claimed two lives and stranded numerous visitors. Authorities reported that nearly all individuals initially unaccounted for have been located and brought to safety following a massive emergency response.
The disaster struck on Saturday afternoon in Bright Angel Canyon, where heavy downpours triggered a torrent of water that surged through the area. The forceful currents carried heavy boulders downstream and completely wrecked vital walking bridges crossing Bright Angel Creek.
Park rangers and emergency crews launched an extensive rescue mission that involved airlifting dozens of stranded tourists from Phantom Ranch, one of the locations most severely impacted by the rising waters. Initial flight operations successfully evacuated 45 people on Saturday, followed by another group of 37 individuals by Sunday afternoon.
Incident Commander Dave Black addressed reporters to confirm that search teams had narrowed down the list of missing persons to just a single individual. Crews are scheduled to resume operations in the sector between Phantom Ranch and Cottonwood Manzanita to locate the remaining missing person.
Officials confirmed that two adult males lost their lives during the weekend event. Search teams previously recovered the body of a 46-year-old man near Crystal Rapids along the path of the Colorado River.
Survivors described chaotic scenes as the weather shifted rapidly from calm conditions to a destructive wall of water. Evacuees recounted moments of panic as warning shouts echoed through the canyon and people scrambled to escape the surging floodwaters.
The severe weather caused widespread infrastructure damage throughout the national park. Early evaluations indicate that a substantial portion of the Transcanyon Waterline, which supplies drinking water to park guests and thousands of local residents, sustained heavy damage or total destruction.
Park administration enacted emergency closures across multiple key locations, including Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, sections of the North Kaibab Trail, and several river crossings. Meteorologists attribute the sudden deluge to seasonal monsoonal patterns common in the American Southwest. These weather events pull moisture northward from coastal waters, frequently producing localized storms over elevated terrain that can unleash dangerous flooding on parched desert ground with little advance warning.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC News. Read the original report at BBC News.
