At least 20 people are missing due to a major flood in the Grand Canyon that forced the evacuation of dozens of people and swept large rocks, metal structures, and other debris into the Colorado River that runs through it, according to the National Park Service.
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The flooding in Bright Angel Creek, which flows into the river, occurred on Saturday afternoon. The torrents of water swept away pedestrian walkways over the creek and significantly altered the landscape, widening the channel and creating what appears to be a new rapid in the river.
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The park service reported that it is seeking information about more than 20 people who are missing or unlocatable after the flood, and asked anyone with details about hikers or campers in the area to get in touch. It added that it is working with the Arizona Department of Public Safety to continue evacuations on Sunday.
“This is a reminder of how dynamic and active the Grand Canyon landscape is,” said Jack Schmidt, director of the Colorado River Studies Center at Utah State University.
Popular tourist spots such as Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch, and sections of the North Kaibab Trail remained closed on Sunday while park officials assessed the damage. Rafting trips on the Colorado River have also been suspended for the time being.
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More than 60 people were evacuated from Phantom Ranch, which has a historic cantina and dormitories, and is a common embarkation and disembarkation point for rafters. Further evacuations are planned for Sunday, the park indicated. No injuries have been reported.
Erica Viola recounted that she was at Bright Angel Campground when it started raining on Saturday afternoon. She and about 50 other hikers saw the creek rise and debris, including what appeared to be a barracks, start to pass by. The group was airlifted to safety by helicopter, ending their adventure two days earlier than planned.
Between 1 and 2.5 centimeters of rain fell in about 30 minutes in the rocky area, where there is a steep slope, explained Justin Johndrow, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Flagstaff. “Most of it ran off instantly,” he noted.
He added that the flood occurred on the north rim of the Grand Canyon, where Bright Angel Creek descends from the North Rim to the Colorado River, with a drop of about 1,828 meters. More rain and storms were forecast for the area heading into Monday.
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