Overview
- A sudden flash flood struck Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area on Aug. 29 around 2:30 p.m., sending debris and boulders down side creeks into the Colorado River and dramatically reshaping creek channels.
- Park crews recovered the body of a 46‑year‑old man near Crystal Rapids and the National Park Service says roughly 15 people remain missing or unaccounted for as searches and accounting continue.
- Helicopter teams and state crews have airlifted at least 62 people from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail and additional evacuations were coordinated at nearby campgrounds.
- Nearly all footbridges over Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, a debris flow formed a partial dam on the Colorado River that halted river traffic, and the Transcanyon Waterline was damaged leading to Stage 4 water restrictions and a suspension of overnight lodging inside the park.
- Officials warn more storms could produce new flash floods, debris flows and rockfalls, and they are asking anyone with information about hikers or campers in the Bright Angel Creek corridor to contact the NPS Investigative Services Branch tip line at 888-653-0009 or nps_isb@nps.gov.