Some 15 persons are believed to be lacking in Grand Canyon Nationwide Park, and dozens have been evacuated after components of the canyon had been hit by “important” flash flooding, which swept giant boulders, metallic buildings and different particles into the Colorado River, officers stated Sunday.
The Nationwide Park Service referred to as for anybody who is aware of of hikers or backpackers who had been in Brilliant Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch space on Saturday afternoon when the flash floods hit to supply info to park authorities.
“Grand Canyon Nationwide Park employees, in coordination with the Arizona Division of Public Security, are persevering with evacuation and response efforts and dealing to account for people who could have been within the affected space,” NPS stated in a press release.
Authorities are additionally trying to find anybody who could have been on the North Kaibab Path from the North Kaibab Trailhead to Phantom Ranch, staying at Brilliant Angel Campground, or touring or staying within the space often known as “the Field” north of Phantom Ranch.
The variety of lacking people is topic to alter as extra info turns into out there, a parks spokesperson informed CBS Information.
Park authorities evacuated at the very least 62 individuals from the favored vacationer spot after the flooding precipitated important harm, officers stated earlier.
“Almost all footbridges spanning Brilliant Angel Creek had been destroyed, eliminating pedestrian entry throughout the creek,” NPS stated in an earlier assertion.
Flash flooding hit components of Grand Canyon Nationwide Park, prompting the evacuation of at the very least 62 individuals. / Credit score: Grand Canyon Nationwide Park
Officers stated Phantom Ranch, Brilliant Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch Canteen, the North Kaibab Path, the Black and Silver bridges and visitors to the Colorado River within the space are closed “till additional discover.” A reopening date was not instantly out there.
About half an inch to 1 inch of rain fell inside about half-hour within the rocky space the place there is a steep drop in elevation, stated Nationwide Climate Service meteorologist Justin Johndrow in Flagstaff.
“Most of it ran off immediately,” Johndrow informed The Related Press.
Officers additionally warned that extra thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are attainable Sunday and Monday, which may “lead to extra flash flooding, particles flows, rockfall and quickly altering path and river situations.”
“It is a reminder of what a dynamic and lively panorama [the] Grand Canyon is,” Jack Schmidt, director of the Heart for Colorado River Research at Utah State College, informed AP.
Remnants of stone bridge pylons stay alongside Brilliant Angel Creek following a flash flood that destroyed the footbridge on Aug. 29, 2026. / Credit score: Handout/Grand Canyon Nationwide Park
Phantom Ranch is a historic and intensely standard lodge near the underside of the Grand Canyon by Brilliant Angel Creek.
Park officers requested individuals to steer clear of the closed areas and stated the operator of the lodge, which is normally totally booked months upfront, will inform friends concerning the state of their reservations.
Grand Canyon Nationwide Park is ranked the fourth-most visited nationwide park within the U.S., with 4,430,653 leisure visits in 2025.