Emergency crews are conducting rescue operations in the Grand Canyon after severe flash flooding struck the Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch areas on Saturday. The National Park Service (NPS) reported that the incident began at approximately 14:30 local time, forcing an immediate response to move visitors to safety.
To date, 62 individuals have been airlifted from the canyon floor. While no injuries have been confirmed, officials are currently attempting to locate more than 20 people who remain unaccounted for. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as the weather shifted rapidly, with hikers forced to seek higher ground as water surged through the area.
Nikki Baggs, a visitor who was evacuated alongside her companions, described the event as "terrifying." She noted that park rangers coordinated the rescue effort effectively, guiding groups to safety as infrastructure, including bridges, was damaged by the floodwaters.
The NPS has closed several trails due to significant damage and is urging anyone with information regarding hikers or backpackers who were in the Bright Angel Creek corridor on Saturday to contact them. Authorities have issued a warning for the coming days, noting that further thunderstorms and heavy rain are expected through Monday, which may trigger additional flooding, rockfalls, and debris flows.
Source: BBC News
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