More Than 60 Evacuated and About 15 Missing After Grand Canyon Flash Flood

Floodwaters swept boulders, metal structures and debris into the Colorado River after a major flash flood struck Arizona’s Grand Canyon, prompting the evacuation of 62 people.

The National Park Service said about 15 people might still be missing or unaccounted for after Saturday afternoon’s flooding in the Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch areas. It asked the public for information about those individuals and said additional evacuations were planned. No injuries had been reported.

Flooding in Bright Angel Creek destroyed footbridges and widened the creek bed, creating what appeared to be a new rapid. The Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch and parts of the North Kaibab Trail remained closed while park officials assessed the damage. Rafting trips on the Colorado River were also suspended.

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We saw the creek flood, waterfalls coming up out of nowhere; boulders, mud, landslides happening everywhere.

Parth Desai, who was hiking through a narrow passage with fellow doctors and a park ranger when the rain began, described rapidly rising water and landslides. “We saw the creek flood, waterfalls coming up out of nowhere; boulders, mud, landslides happening everywhere,” he told The Associated Press.

Jack Schmidt, director of the Center for Colorado River Studies at Utah State University, said the event showed the canyon’s changing character. “This is a reminder of what a dynamic and active landscape Grand Canyon is,” he told AP. More rain and thunderstorms were forecast through Monday.

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This is a reminder of what a dynamic and active landscape Grand Canyon is.