One dead and more than a dozen missing after 'terrifying' flash flood hits Grand Canyon
Source: BBC World ↗ (cross-verified by 3 outlets — full list below)
A flash flood swept through Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area of the Grand Canyon on Saturday afternoon, leaving one 46‑year‑old man dead and 15 people missing or unaccounted for, according to the National Park Service. The sudden deluge ripped footbridges from their supports, hurled boulders downstream, and forced a massive rescue effort that saw 62 hikers airlifted out of the canyon. The victim’s body was recovered Sunday evening near Crystal Rapids on the Colorado River. Among the survivors was 41‑year‑old Nikki Baggs, who described the event as “terrifying” after she and two friends were forced from a cabin at Phantom Ranch to higher ground, then to a ledge where they waited for hours before being evacuated around 21:30 local time.
The flooding was triggered by monsoonal showers that have been moving across the Southwest, a seasonal pattern that draws warm, moist air from the Gulf of California and the tropical Pacific into the region’s mountains. Because the desert floor is typically very dry, heavy downpours can generate flash floods with little warning, and the storms also bring frequent lightning that heightens wildfire risk. The National Weather Service has issued flood watches for large portions of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado, and radar shows continued showers that are expected to persist through Monday, extending the flood threat for several more weeks as the North American monsoon season runs through September.
In the aftermath, the National Park Service has closed damaged trails and halted overnight guest lodging at the South Rim, citing extensive damage to the park’s water infrastructure. Officials are still seeking information on the 15 missing hikers and have urged anyone with knowledge of individuals in the inner canyon along the Bright Angel Creek corridor on Saturday to come forward. Park rangers warned that additional thunderstorms and heavy rain are forecast for Sunday and Monday, which could produce further flash flooding, debris flows, rockfalls and altered river conditions. The incident underscores the vulnerability of the Grand Canyon’s most popular trail, the Bright Angel Trail, which draws millions of visitors each year, and highlights the challenges of managing sudden weather extremes in a heavily trafficked national park.
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