Grand Canyon flash flood leaves 1 dead and 15 missing as dozens are evacuated by air

Emergency rescue teams and park rangers conducted air evacuations in Grand Canyon National Park on Sunday, following a severe monsoon-driven flash flood in the inner canyon.

The National Park Service (NPS) confirmed that one person died and approximately 15 individuals remain missing or unaccounted for after torrents of water overwhelmed Bright Angel Creek.

What caused the Grand Canyon flash flood and what was the damage?

The flash flood struck around 2:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, August 29, triggered by intense localized rainfall on the Kaibab Plateau. Meteorologists from the National Weather Service noted that up to an inch of rain fell within a 30-minute window, running off the steep rocky terrain and surging 6,000 feet down into Bright Angel Canyon.

Video captured by hikers depicted a wall of muddy water carrying heavy debris, logs, boulders, and structures down the canyon. The flood destroyed nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek, widened the creek bed, and swept heavy debris into the Colorado River. The surge also severely damaged the park's primary water pipeline, forcing officials to shut down overnight lodging and implement strict water conservation measures.

How are search, rescue, and evacuation operations progressing?

By Sunday morning, the NPS and the Arizona Department of Public Safety had airlifted 62 people to safety from Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground. Later Sunday evening, park authorities confirmed that recovery operations were completed for a 46-year-old male hiker found deceased near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River.

According to The Guardian, the NPS issued a public appeal for information regarding backpackers and river rafters who were registered along the North Kaibab Trail or Bright Angel Creek corridor on Saturday.

Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, and the North Kaibab Trail remain closed indefinitely, while river traffic along sections of the Colorado River has been suspended due to hazardous submerged debris. Park officials cautioned that ongoing rain and thunderstorm forecasts through Monday could trigger additional rockfalls, debris flows, and flash flooding.