Overview
- A sudden, high‑volume flash flood swept Bright Angel Canyon on Saturday afternoon, sending fast, debris‑filled flows through Phantom Ranch and into the Colorado River.
- Search and rescue teams recovered the body of a 46‑year‑old man near Crystal Rapids and report about 15 people remain unlocated while roughly 62 visitors have been evacuated by helicopter and ground teams.
- The flood destroyed almost all pedestrian footbridges over Bright Angel Creek, widened the creek channel and deposited large debris into the Colorado River, leading officials to close Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, the North Kaibab route to Phantom Ranch and the affected river reach.
- Park and state responders are conducting ongoing searches and staged mass care for evacuees while warning that forecast storms could produce more flash floods, rockfalls and debris flows that will slow operations.
- The event damaged the Transcanyon waterline that supplies the South Rim, prompting potable‑water restrictions, suspension of some overnight services and the prospect of extended repairs that will affect visitor services and fire‑protection capacity.