The National Park Service confirmed Sunday that approximately 15 people may be missing or unaccounted for after a significant flash flood struck the Grand Canyon.
The flood tore through Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area on Saturday, causing widespread destruction across one of the park’s most heavily trafficked regions.
The Bright Angel Trail, described by the NPS as the most popular hiking trail into the Grand Canyon, was among the areas hit hardest by the sudden and powerful surge of water.
One person has died as a result of the flooding, with at least 14 others still unaccounted for as of Sunday, according to officials overseeing the emergency response.
National park staff and the Arizona Department of Public Safety are continuing evacuation and response efforts and working to account for individuals who may have been in the affected area.
By Sunday morning, 62 people had been successfully evacuated from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail, the NPS confirmed.
The flash flood began at approximately 2:30 p.m. PCT and resulted in significant impacts to infrastructure throughout Bright Angel Canyon, the park said in its initial Sunday release.
“Nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, eliminating hiker access across the creek,” the National Park Service said in a statement.
The flooding also knocked out the park’s water pipeline, forcing officials to implement significant water conservation measures, including suspending all overnight hotel stays starting Monday.
The park’s communications office said all park concessions were halting overnight lodging, including the Maswik Lodge, while the park would remain open for day use only.
National Weather Service meteorologist Justin Johndrow in Flagstaff said about half an inch to one inch of rain fell within roughly 30 minutes in the steep, rocky terrain.
“Most of it ran off instantly,” Johndrow told The Associated Press, explaining how the rapid runoff contributed to the destructive force of the flooding.
The combination of steep elevation drops and rocky terrain with minimal absorption capacity transformed a brief rainfall into a devastating surge through the canyon floor.
Authorities have not provided a full timeline for when all missing individuals are expected to be accounted for, as search and response operations remain active.
