One dead and more than a dozen missing after 'terrifying' flash flood hits Grand Canyon

Two people were killed and 14 remain missing after a flash flood struck parts of the Grand Canyon on Saturday afternoon. The disaster destroyed footbridges and sent boulders flowing downstream. A 46-year-old man's body was recovered near Crystal Rapids on Sunday evening. Sixty-two individuals have been airlifted out of the area.

Nikki Baggs, a 41-year-old participant, described the suddenness and terror of the event, saying "It was a beautiful day and then people were screaming, running." She and her friends had left their belongings at a cabin in Phantom Ranch, a remote lodge at the canyon's bottom, to enjoy the pleasant weather. When the flood hit, they rushed to higher ground and waited for rescue for several hours before being evacuated.

Baggs praised the swift and coordinated response from park rangers. The National Park Service (NPS) reported that search and rescue efforts are ongoing. The recent monsoon rains in the Grand Canyon and southwestern US caused the flash flooding, which is difficult to forecast and can occur suddenly due to the dry ground. The NPS alerted that flash flooding, debris flows, rockfall, and changing trail conditions could persist for weeks.