GRAND CANYON, AZ (AZFamily) — Around 15 people are unaccounted for after flash flooding tore through the Grand Canyon on Saturday afternoon, the National Park Service says.
Park officials initially estimated more than 20 people were missing, but revised that figure to around 15 just before 3 p.m. Sunday.
The update comes after park officials announced that dozens of people had been rescued as of Sunday morning. Significant infrastructure damage has been reported in Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch areas.
The National Park Service is asking anyone with information about hikers or backpackers who were in the inner canyon along the Bright Angel Creek corridor on Aug. 29, or anyone who had a campground reservation in that area, to contact investigators.
That includes anyone who may have been:
- Traveling the North Kaibab Trail between the North Kaibab Trailhead and Phantom Ranch
- Staying at Bright Angel Campground
- Traveling or staying in “the Box,” the area north of Phantom Ranch
How to report missing hikers
Anyone with information is asked to contact the NPS Investigative Services Branch at the tip line by calling 888-653-0009 or emailing [email protected].
When submitting a tip, include whatever details you have on the missing individual — name, last known location, travel plans, group size, and a description of their clothing or backpack. Tipsters can remain anonymous; providing your own name is optional.
Timeline of the flooding
The flooding began around 2:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the Park Service.
By Sunday morning, rescuers had airlifted 62 people out of Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail. No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
Additional evacuations were scheduled for Sunday morning at Cottonwood Campground and Phantom Ranch, coordinated by the Park Service and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Evacuees are being taken to the Maswik Lodge Cafeteria on the South Rim, where the American Red Cross is providing assistance.
Closures in effect
The following areas are closed until further notice:
- Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, the Phantom Ranch Canteen and cabins
- The entire North Kaibab Trail from the North Kaibab Trailhead to Phantom Ranch
- The Black Bridge and Silver Bridge crossing the Colorado River
Officials have not given a reopening timeline and say additional inner-canyon closures may be necessary. Updates are being posted on the Grand Canyon’s website.
Widespread damage to trails and bridges
The flooding caused widespread damage throughout Bright Angel Canyon, officials say. Nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were reportedly destroyed, cutting off hiker access across the creek.
Park staff are continuing to assess damage to trails, bridges, utilities and other facilities.
The Colorado River is also closed to river traffic until further notice after metal structures and debris washed into the water. River parties already in the canyon are receiving guidance from river operations rangers through the Grand Canyon River Alert system.
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