One individual died and not less than 14 others “could also be lacking or unaccounted” for on the Grand Canyon in Arizona after harmful flash flooding over the weekend, in accordance with officers.
Air evacuations continued on Sunday afternoon, a day after a “important flash flood” swept by means of campgrounds and mountain climbing trails on the backside of the nationwide park, authorities stated.
The Grand Canyon Nationwide Park Service stated in an replace Sunday night that one individual was recovered from the river within the park. The id of the deceased particular person has not been launched.
NPS stated there are not less than 14 different people “who could also be lacking or unaccounted” following Saturday’s flash flood.
“The Nationwide Park Service is asking anybody who is aware of of hikers or backpackers who had been within the internal canyon alongside the Vibrant Angel Creek hall on August 29, in addition to anybody who had a campground reservation within the affected hall, to offer data to the Nationwide Park Service Investigative Companies Department (ISB),” the assertion stated.
This picture reveals the aftermath of a flash flood within the Vibrant Angel Canyon space on the backside of the Grand Canyon close to the Colorado River that prompted air evacuations of greater than 60 individuals, August 29, 2026.
Nationwide Park Service
Earlier Sunday, the Nationwide Park Service (NPS) officers stated greater than 20 had been lacking and 62 people had been air evacuated from Grand Canyon’s Phantom Ranch and the decrease North Kaibab Path, “which was affected by a big flash-flood occasion Saturday afternoon.”
Evacuees had been being taken to the Maswik Lodge Cafeteria on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the place the American Pink Cross is coordinating help.
No accidents had been instantly reported.
The most recent Nationwide Park Service stated the flash flooding knocked out the park’s water pipeline, prompting “important water conservation measures” to be carried out. These measures embrace: no in a single day lodge stays allowed beginning Monday, and solely campground rest room taps will nonetheless run.
“A number of campgrounds and trails are closed till additional discover, and there’s no estimated reopening date for the affected areas,” the Grand Canyon NPS stated.
An air evacuation of individuals stranded by a flash flood within the Grand Canyon was persevering with on Sunday, August 30, 2026, in accordance with the Grand Canyon Nationwide Park Service.
Grand Canyon Nationwide Park Service
Grand Canyon Nationwide Park workers, in coordination with the Arizona Division of Public Security, had been persevering with air evacuations on Sunday afternoon, officers stated.
“Grand Canyon will presumably face extra thunderstorms and heavy rainfall at present and Monday, which may lead to flash flooding, particles stream, and rockfall,” the Grand Canyon NPS assertion stated.
Flash flooding unfolded about 2:30 p.m. native time on Saturday within the Vibrant Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch space, each fashionable locations for hikers.
“The flash flood resulted in important impacts to infrastructure all through Vibrant Angel Canyon. Practically all footbridges spanning Vibrant Angel Creek had been destroyed, eliminating hiker entry throughout the creek,” the Grand Canyon NPS stated.
Movies of the flooding obtained by ABC Information present a roaring Colorado River as mudflows and particles from metallic buildings are seen floating down the river.
Erica Viola, who recorded the movies, informed ABC Information she was tenting at Vibrant Angel Campground when she and her husband, Scott Svedin, needed to evacuate. Viola stated that she misplaced most of her belongings within the flooding.
Viola stated that she and different campers had been informed by park rangers to run as quick as they may to the closest bridge for evacuation.
Svedin stated that as they had been headed for the bridge, individuals had been scrambling to beat the rising water.
“We simply heard individuals yell, ‘Run, run, run!’ And there is 40 of us operating by means of this deep, muddy water, attempting to make it to the bridge,” Viola stated. “As soon as we acquired to the bridge, that is when this 15-foot wall of water got here by means of the campground in Phantom Ranch and simply worn out all of the bridges within the creek.”
Viola and Svedin stated they witnessed bunkhouses, barbecue grills, ice chests, and even an excavator floating down the Colorado River.
ABC Information’ Jennifer Watts and Lissette Rodriguez contributed to this report.
