15 people missing after flash floods hit Grand Canyon

An estimated 15 people may be missing and at least 62 have been evacuated after a powerful flash flood tore through parts of Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park, destroying footbridges and severely damaging infrastructure, park officials said. The National Park Service said the flooding struck Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area on Saturday after a series of storms swept through the Grand Canyon. Officials said an earlier working estimate had put the number of missing or unaccounted-for people at 20. No injuries had been reported as of Sunday afternoon, but search and rescue efforts were continuing and more evacuations were planned from Cottonwood Campground and Phantom Ranch. The flooding caused extensive damage across Bright Angel Canyon, with nearly all footbridges over Bright Angel Creek destroyed, cutting off access for hikers. The force of the water also widened the creek bed and created what appeared to be a new rapid, according to the Associated Press. One hiker, David Gregory, told CNN that his group realised something was wrong when the creek near their camp turned black with debris and began flowing rapidly. They were later evacuated by helicopter and taken to safety. The National Park Service has appealed to the public for information about hikers and backpackers who may have been in the affected areas, asking anyone with information to contact its tip line. The threat has not fully passed. Further storms are possible, with rainfall rates of up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) per hour recorded in parts of the canyon. Rangers warned that additional rain could trigger more flash flooding, debris flows and rockfalls, while further altering trail and river conditions.