More than 20 individuals are possibly unaccounted for following a serious flash flood that swept through a remote section of the Grand Canyon. This has led the National Park Service to make an urgent appeal to the public for assistance.
According to Grand Canyon National Park, by Sunday morning, 62 people had been evacuated from Bright Angel Canyon and the nearby Phantom Ranch, where the flooding occurred on August 29.
Authorities are actively seeking help to locate those who may have been in the area during the flood.
The park stated, “Additional evacuations are planned today,” noting the potential for more thunderstorms and heavy rain throughout Sunday and Monday, which could heighten the risk of further flash flooding, debris flows, and rockfalls.
The flooding event significantly impacted Bright Angel Canyon and the surrounding Phantom Ranch area, with reports indicating that nearly all footbridges across Bright Angel Creek were destroyed.
Ongoing evacuation efforts are being coordinated by the park staff alongside the Arizona Department of Public Safety as they work to locate anyone who may have been affected by the flooding.
Officials encourage anyone who has information about hikers or backpackers in the inner canyon along Bright Angel Creek on that day to reach out to investigators. This also includes those who may have had a campground reservation in the impacted region.
The National Park Service is attempting to identify individuals who had traveled on the North Kaibab Trail between its trailhead and Phantom Ranch, stayed at Bright Angel Campground, or traversed an area referred to as “the Box,” located north of Phantom Ranch.
Specific details regarding those missing or unaccounted for have not been disclosed, including whether they were hikers, campers, or park visitors with bookings in the area.
If anyone has relevant information, they are urged to contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch Tip Line.
