Flash Floods Strike Grand Canyon; One Dead, About 15 Missing

Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz., Aug. 31 — A powerful surge of flash flooding tore through the inner canyons of Grand Canyon National Park over the weekend, leaving one man dead and roughly 15 people unaccounted for as rescue crews continued search and evacuation efforts Monday morning.

Park officials said the flooding began after an intense storm dropped up to an inch of rain in less than half an hour, sending walls of water, boulders, and debris crashing through Bright Angel Canyon and into the Colorado River. The sudden deluge destroyed footbridges, damaged critical infrastructure, and stranded dozens of hikers and campers.

The body of a 46‑year‑old man was recovered Sunday evening near Crystal Rapids. Authorities did not release his identity and urged anyone who knew hikers in the Bright Angel or Phantom Ranch areas on Saturday afternoon to contact park officials.

Search Efforts Continue Through Rugged Terrain

Grand Canyon staff, working with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, continued combing the affected areas Monday, focusing on hikers who may have been on the North Kaibab Trail, staying at Bright Angel Campground, or traveling through the narrow corridor known as the Box.

Officials stressed that the number of missing remains fluid as more hikers check in or are located. Overnight, park representatives told CBS News that at least 15 people were still unaccounted for.

Dozens Evacuated; Infrastructure Heavily Damaged

At least 62 people were evacuated from Phantom Ranch and surrounding areas after the floods caused what officials described as “extensive damage.” Nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, cutting off pedestrian access and complicating rescue operations.

Several major facilities and trails — including Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, the Phantom Ranch Canteen, the North Kaibab Trail, and both the Black and Silver bridges — were closed indefinitely.

The flooding also ruptured the Transcanyon Waterline, the system that supplies water throughout the park. With the line now inoperable, officials warned of limited water reserves and urged strict conservation measures.

Close Calls at Phantom Ranch

Visitors described harrowing escapes as the floodwaters surged. Gabe Bergemann, who was staying at Phantom Ranch with family, said the storm hit “like a whole monsoon,” sending dark, debris‑filled water rushing through the campground.

Rangers ordered an immediate evacuation, directing dozens across a footbridge moments before the creek overtook it. The bridge collapsed roughly ten minutes after the last evacuees crossed.

“It was like a whirlpool,” said David Gregory, who was traveling with Bergemann’s group. “Cabins, equipment — everything was spinning in the water. If we hadn’t moved when we did, it would’ve been game over.”

More Storms Expected

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for northern and central Arizona through Monday evening, warning of additional thunderstorms capable of producing more flash flooding, debris flows, rockfall, and rapidly changing trail conditions.

Forecasters cautioned that saturated soils and deep monsoonal moisture could create “raging killer currents” in slot canyons and narrow creek beds.

Grand Canyon National Park — the fourth‑most visited national park in the United States — urged visitors to stay clear of closed areas and to monitor weather alerts closely.