At least 15 people remain missing after flash flooding struck the Grand Canyon at the weekend, with 62 others evacuated from the park. A recovery mission for a 46-year-old man has also been completed near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River.
Recovery and Search Efforts
In a statement issued at 6.30pm local time, a spokesperson for the Grand Canyon National Park said: "The Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office is currently onsite. There is no additional information to share at this time."
Officials are appealing to the public to help trace individuals who were in the area and travelling near the North Kaibab Trail from the North Kaibab Trailhead to Phantom Ranch at the time of the floods. This includes anyone staying at Bright Angel Campground or travelling or staying in the region known as 'the Box' north of Phantom Ranch.
Flooding and Evacuations
The flooding in Bright Angel Creek, which feeds into the Colorado River, occurred on Saturday afternoon. Torrents of water destroyed footbridges spanning the creek and dramatically transformed the landscape, broadening the creek bed and forming what appeared to be a new river rapid.
The National Park Service confirmed that 62 others were rescued from the park during the flooding, which forced the evacuation of dozens and swept massive boulders, metal structures and other debris into the Colorado River. It said it was working with the Arizona Department of Public Safety to continue evacuations on Sunday.
Park Closures and Impact
Popular tourist destinations including the Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch and sections of the North Kaibab Trail remained shut on Sunday while park officials assessed the damage. River rafting excursions on the Colorado River have also been suspended for the time being.
More than 60 people were evacuated from Phantom Ranch, which features a historic canteen and dormitories and serves as a popular location for rafters to embark and disembark from the river. Additional evacuations were scheduled for Sunday, and no injuries have been reported.
Witness Accounts and Weather
Erica Viola said she was at Bright Angel Campground when the downpour began Saturday afternoon, and she along with roughly 50 other hikers watched the creek swell and then debris begin flowing past, including what appeared to be a bunkhouse. The group was airlifted to safety by helicopter, cutting her adventure short by two days.
Approximately half an inch to one inch (one centimetre to 2.5 centimetres) of rain fell within roughly 30 minutes in the rocky terrain where there's a sharp drop in elevation, said National Weather Service meteorologist Justin Johndrow in Flagstaff. "Most of it ran off instantly," Johndrow said.
He said the flooding occurred on the north side of the Grand Canyon, where Bright Angel Creek flows from the North Rim down to the Colorado River, plunging around 6,000 feet (1,828 metres). Further rainfall and thunderstorms were anticipated for the region through to Monday.
