THE TAKEAWAY
- More than 20 people are currently unaccounted for due to flash flooding in the Grand Canyon.
- Dozens of people had to be airlifted to safety.
- Flash flooding caused many bridges and a metal building to be washed out.
- It is peak monsoon season in the Southwest.
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Arizona — More than 20 people are missing and dozens more needed to be airlifted to safety as sudden flash flooding slammed Grand Canyon National Park Saturday afternoon.
Park officials said flooding began in Bright Angel Canyon around 2:30 p.m., and the National Park Service had to evacuate 62 individuals by air from the Phantom Ranch camping area and the lower North Kaibab Trail.
The National Park Service said more than 20 people may be missing and are currently unaccounted for. The agency is asking anyone who knows of hikers or backpackers who were in the inner canyon along the Bright Angel Creek corridor on Saturday to contact investigators.
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Officials said more people will be evacuated Sunday morning from Cottonwood Campground and Phantom Ranch amid the “significant” flash flood event.
Officials said Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, the Phantom Ranch Canteen and cabins, and the entire North Kaibab Trail from the trailhead to Phantom Ranch are closed until further notice.
The North Kaibab Trail is a strenuous 14-mile one-way trail that descends 5,800 feet from the park’s North Rim to the Colorado River.
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The Black Bridge and Silver Bridge crossing the Colorado River are also closed. The National Park Service said there is no estimated reopening date for these areas, and other inner canyon closures may be necessary.
“The flash flood resulted in significant impacts to infrastructure throughout Bright Angel Canyon. Nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, eliminating hiker access across the creek. Grand Canyon National Park staff are continuing to assess damage to trails, bridges, utilities, facilities and other infrastructure,” the National Park Service said in a press release.
Reports from the National Weather Service indicate a metal building was washed into the Colorado River and many bridges at Phantom Ranch were also washed out.
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Authorities said the Colorado River is currently closed to river traffic until further notice due to metal structures and debris entering the river. People already in the canyon are receiving direction through river operations rangers and the Grand Canyon River Alert system to get to safety, according to the National Park Service.
The National Park Service said evacuees are being transported to the Maswik Lodge Cafeteria on the South Rim, where the American Red Cross is coordinating assistance.
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The FOX Forecast Center said that while rain totals only reached 1 to 1.75 inches for the hardest-hit areas, that was enough to cause significant issues in part of the park.
Another campground reported one foot of standing water, and several trails were flooded and remain impassible. Gauges along the Colorado River spiked by as much as 9 feet as the rain began to flow through the canyon.
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The National Park Service said visitors with upcoming river trips should contact their commercial outfitter or NPS River Permits for specific information about their trip.
Xanterra — which is the largest national park concessions management company in the U.S. — will be in touch with guests that have future Phantom Ranch reservations about the status of their reservations, according to park officials.
Officials said anyone with information should contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch (ISB) at 888-653-0009 or by filling out this form.
Visitors are being asked to avoid closed areas until further notice. Our affiliate FOX 10 reports that severe thunderstorms building across southern Arizona are pushing powerful outflow boundaries north toward Maricopa and Pinal counties.
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The storms come amid monsoon season, which happens in the Southwest from late June to September.
Additional thunderstorms and heavy rain are possible today and tomorrow, which could result in more flash flooding, debris flows, rockfall and changing trail and river conditions, the National Park Service warned.
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Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.
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