Flash flood at Grand Canyon forces evacuations, leaves 20 people missing

A major flash flood at the Grand Canyon forced the evacuation of dozens of people and swept large boulders, metal structures and other debris into the Colorado River, the National Park Service said.  

The flooding occurred on Saturday afternoon in Bright Angel Creek, which flows into the Colorado River. Powerful torrents washed away footbridges across the creek and changed the surrounding landscape, widening the creek bed and creating what appeared to be a new rapid in the river.

The park service said it was trying to locate more than 20 people who may be missing or unaccounted for following the flooding. It appealed to anyone with information about people who were hiking or camping in the affected area to contact authorities. Officials were also working with the Arizona Department of Public Safety to continue evacuations on Sunday.

“This is a reminder of what a dynamic and active landscape Grand Canyon is,” said Jack Schmidt, director of the Center for Colorado River Studies at Utah State University.

Several popular tourist locations, including Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch and sections of the North Kaibab trail, remained closed on Sunday as park officials assessed the damage. Rafting activities on the Colorado River have also been suspended temporarily. 

More than 60 people were evacuated from Phantom Ranch, which includes a historic canteen and dormitories and is a popular point for rafters to enter or leave the river. The park service said further evacuations were planned on Sunday. No injuries have been reported so far.

Erica Viola, who was staying at Bright Angel Campground, said rain began falling on Saturday afternoon. She and around 50 other hikers watched as the creek level rose and debris began moving through the area, including an object that appeared to be a bunkhouse. The group was later flown to safety by helicopter, cutting her trip short by two days, she said.

National Weather Service meteorologist Justin Johndrow in Flagstaff said between about half an inch and 1 inch (1 cm to 2.5 cm) of rain fell within roughly 30 minutes in the rocky area, which has a steep drop in elevation.

“Most of it ran off instantly," Johndrow said.

He said the flooding occurred on the northern side of the Grand Canyon, where Bright Angel Creek flows from the North Rim down towards the Colorado River, dropping about 6,000 feet (1,828 metres) along the way.

More rain and thunderstorms were possible in the area through Monday, he said.  (with inputs from PTI)