One dead, 15 missing after major flash flood hits Grand Canyon

At least one person is dead and about 15 people were missing or unaccounted for after a major flash flood hit the Grand Canyon in the US state of Arizona, authorities said.

The flood occurred on Saturday afternoon in the area of Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch, the National Park Service said, where at least 62 people were evacuated. The flood swept large boulders, metal structures and other debris into the Colorado River.

The body of a 46-year-old man was recovered Sunday evening near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River, the park service said without providing additional details.

The flood also knocked out the only water pipeline that serves residents and tourists, the park service said.

“The National Park Service is asking the public to provide information for approximately 15 individuals who may be missing or unaccounted for following a significant flash-flood event,” it said in a statement.

The flooding in Bright Angel Creek, which flows into the Colorado River, wiped out footbridges over the creek and significantly altered the landscape, widening the creek bed and creating what appeared to be a new river rapid.

Popular tourist spots, including the Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch and parts of the North Kaibab trail, remained closed on Sunday while park officials surveyed the damage, the park said. Rafting trips on the Colorado River also have been halted for now.

Parth Desai was hiking through a narrow passage in Bright Angel Canyon with a group of fellow doctors and a park ranger when the downpour started.

“We saw the creek flood, waterfalls coming up out of nowhere; boulders, mud, landslides happening everywhere,” he told The Associated Press news agency.

“This is a reminder of what a dynamic and active landscape Grand Canyon is,” Jack Schmidt, director of the Center for Colorado River Studies at Utah State University, told AP.

The Grand Canyon National Park Service said it is working in coordination with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, with additional evacuations planned on Sunday. No injuries have been reported so far.

Tourists will not be able to stay overnight at lodges and hotels within Grand Canyon National Park starting Monday, due to the main water line being out of service.

“These measures are crucial for ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources,” the park said in a statement.

About half an inch to 1 inch (1 to 2.5 cm) of rain fell within about 20 minutes on a rocky slope where there’s a steep drop in elevation, said National Weather Service meteorologist Darren McCollum in Flagstaff. The deluge was preceded by two smaller systems that drenched the area hours earlier.

“So when the main storm moved in, torrential rain fell on everything that was already soaked, and that caused all the problems that we’re seeing,” McCollum said.

More rain and thunderstorms were forecast for the area into Monday.