Hikers feared missing after flash flooding hits Grand Canyon
More than 20 people are thought to be unaccounted for after flash flooding on Saturday.
Grand Canyon Flash Flooding Prompts Rescue Operation, Hikers Feared Missing
A sudden flash flood tore through sections of the Grand Canyon on Saturday, leading to the airlift of dozens of individuals and concerns for over 20 who remain unaccounted for.
The National Park Service (NPS) reported that the flooding commenced around 2:30 PM local time (10:30 PM BST) in the Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch vicinity. To date, 62 people have been evacuated from the affected zone, with further rescues anticipated. No injuries have been reported.
The NPS indicated that the deluge inflicted considerable damage in certain areas, resulting in the closure of local trails. Authorities issued a warning for Sunday and Monday, forecasting additional thunderstorms and heavy precipitation. These conditions could trigger "further flash flooding, debris flows, rockfall, and altered trail and river conditions."
The NPS has urged anyone with information regarding hikers or backpackers who were in the inner canyon along the Bright Angel Creek corridor on Saturday to contact them.
The Grand Canyon stands as one of America's most frequented national parks, drawing approximately five million visitors annually. Its Bright Angel trail is particularly popular. The Phantom Ranch area, according to Grand Canyon National Park Lodges, is accessible exclusively by foot, mule, or via rafting on the Colorado River.