Overview
- A sudden, intense flash flood hit Bright Angel Canyon on Saturday afternoon, sending heavy flows of water and debris down Bright Angel Creek into the Colorado River.
- Park officials evacuated at least 62 people by helicopter and ground transport and have planned additional removals from Cottonwood Campground and Phantom Ranch.
- The National Park Service says roughly 15 people remain unconfirmed after an earlier estimate of more than 20, and recovery teams recovered the body of a 46-year-old male near Crystal Rapids.
- The flood destroyed nearly all footbridges over Bright Angel Creek, damaged trails and left metal structures and large rocks in the Colorado River, so river traffic and key facilities remain closed until damage assessments are complete.
- The NPS is coordinating search, evacuation and damage-assessment operations with Arizona authorities, is asking the public for information on hikers or campers who may have been in the corridor, and warns forecast storms could cause more flash floods that complicate response.