1 dead, 15 believed missing in Grand Canyon flood

Air evacuations persisted at the Grand Canyon on Sunday afternoon following dangerous flash flooding over the weekend, resulting in one death and at least 14 potential missing individuals, according to officials. The incident unfolded on Saturday afternoon at the bottom of the national park, where a significant flash flood swept through campgrounds and hiking trails.

The Grand Canyon National Park Service (NPS) reported that one person was recovered from the river, though the deceased individual's identity remains unreleased. The NPS is requesting information from anyone who knows of hikers or backpackers who were in the inner canyon along Bright Angel Creek on August 29, as well as those with campground reservations in the affected area.

Earlier Sunday, the NPS had stated that over 20 individuals were missing and 62 people were air evacuated from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail. The flash flooding caused the park's water pipeline to be destroyed, leading to stringent water conservation measures, including the prohibition of overnight hotel stays and the restriction of campground bathroom faucets.

Multiple campgrounds and trails are closed, with an unknown reopening date. The Grand Canyon NPS, along with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, continued air evacuations on Sunday afternoon. The flash flooding occurred around 2:30 p.m. local time in Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch, causing extensive damage to infrastructure, including the destruction of nearly all footbridges across Bright Angel Creek, which eliminated hiker access.

Witness Erica Viola recounted the harrowing experience of running through deep, muddy water to reach a bridge while others scrambled to escape the rising water levels, witnessing debris, including bunkhouses, barbecues, ice chests, and an excavator, float down the Colorado River.