US border patrol expected to aid Grand Canyon search for missing person

A US border patrol technical search team is expected to join efforts in the Grand Canyon search for a missing person after a deadly flash flood swept through the national park over the weekend. Nearly 80 people have been rescued, and two others, identified as chiropractor John Giusti, 46, and martial arts studio owner Brent Rosenkranz, 42, have been confirmed dead.

The third hiker, Timothy Smith, 53, remains missing. Authorities are on high alert as more heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecasted, which could lead to additional debris flows, flash floods, or rock falls. The unfortunate incident occurred deep within the canyon on Bright Angel Creek, near Phantom Ranch. Hiker Daniel Evans recounted how several days of rain preceded a particularly intense 30-minute downpour on Saturday afternoon.

Despite park rangers warning hikers to leave the area, the situation escalated rapidly. Flash floods are not uncommon in the Grand Canyon, especially during the monsoon season, when clear days can quickly transform into thunderstorms and heavy downpours. Scientists attribute the severity of this weekend's flood to a combination of climate factors, including drought, wildfire scarring, and warming temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, which have supercharged storms.

This year's monsoon is particularly intense due to a strong El Niño and a higher amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, primarily because of the ongoing climate crisis. The Grand Canyon's dry landscape can absorb only a limited amount of water, making a normal summer downpour in other regions deadly in a rocky canyon.