Grand Canyon Flash Floods Kill Two, Leave Fifteen Missing

Search-and-rescue efforts continue on Monday in Grand Canyon National Park following flash floods that began on Saturday.

The National Park Service announced that the bodies of at least two people have been recovered. The first recovered body was identified as an unidentified 46-year-old man, while authorities did not release details about the second body. Another 15 people remain missing or unaccounted for. The flash floods occurred along Bright Angel Creek and Bright Angel Canyon after heavy rainfall on Saturday.

About half an inch to an inch of rainfall occurred within half an hour, according to the National Weather Service. Four waves of rainfall over two creek drainages resulted in the flooding. The lower edge of Grand Canyon National Park near the Colorado River was primarily affected due to its lower elevation. The flooding destroyed nearly all footbridges along Bright Angel Creek, eliminating hiker access across the creek.

This left more than 60 hikers and campers stranded, who were safely evacuated by helicopter by Sunday morning. Preliminary assessments indicate approximately 40% of the Transcanyon Waterline was damaged or destroyed. The Colorado River is closed to river traffic until further notice due to metal structures and debris entering the river. Many areas of the national park, including Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground, remain closed to the public.

Recovery efforts are being led by Grand Canyon NPS staff in coordination with the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Weather forecasters warn that the possibility of more rain and thunderstorms early this week could bring additional flooding and hamper emergency response operations. One individual missing on Monday was identified in a Facebook post by his wife as Dr. John Guisti, a New York chiropractor.