Flash flood in Grand Canyon kills one, leaves 15 missing and forces evacuations

One person was found dead and roughly 15 others remain missing after a flash flood struck Bright Angel Creek in Grand Canyon National Park on Saturday, the National Park Service said Sunday. The body of a 46-year-old man was recovered near Crystal Rapids on the Colorado River, and coroner officials were on site.

The sudden downpour caused the creek to swell, sweeping boulders into the river, destroying footbridges and a water pipeline that supplies the park’s lodges and the village of Grand Canyon. More than 60 visitors were evacuated from the canyon, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety assisted with additional rescues on Sunday.

Because the main water line is out of service, overnight stays at park lodges will be suspended beginning Monday, and residents are being asked to conserve water. The park’s statement said the measures are needed to protect safety and water resources.

Parth Desai, a physician who was hiking with a ranger when the flood began, described seeing the creek rise rapidly, waterfalls forming, and debris walls moving toward them. He and his companions were rescued by helicopter after reaching the Phantom Ranch area.

The flood also disrupted a $208 million pipeline rehabilitation project that began in 2023 and was slated for completion next year. Jack Schmidt, director of the Center for Colorado River Studies at Utah State University, warned that reconstruction could be costly and challenging.

Lodging remains available outside the park’s South Rim entrance, but popular sites such as Bright Angel Campground, the North Kaibab Trail and Phantom Ranch stay closed. National Weather Service meteorologist Darren McCollum said about half an inch to an inch of rain fell in roughly 20 minutes on steep terrain, intensifying runoff that had already been saturated by earlier storms. Additional rain and thunderstorms were forecast for the area into Monday.