After a severe flash flood struck the Grand Canyon over the weekend, the bodies of a Texas chiropractor and at least one other individual have been discovered. Forecasters have cautioned that more flooding could occur due to heavy rainfall surrounding the canyon. Approximately 80 individuals were rescued during the flooding, and efforts are underway to locate one person who is still missing.
Officials, led by Incident Cmdr. Dave Black, utilized night vision technology and other tools to locate and evacuate individuals from the park during the weekend. By utilizing the park’s permit system and cross-referencing vehicle license plates, rangers were able to determine the number of missing persons.
Grand Canyon deputy superintendent Brian Drapeaux noted that there may be day hikers who did not obtain permits and thus were not included in the park’s missing persons records. Weather experts have issued warnings of potential rain and thunderstorms that could lead to further flooding in the popular tourist destination, prompting the evacuation of numerous visitors following the flood in Bright Angel Creek on Saturday.
The flood severely damaged the sole water pipeline in the canyon, necessitating emergency water usage restrictions for year-round residents. Additionally, tourists have been prohibited from lodging in the park’s lodges and hotels. Video footage from the area depicted muddy floodwaters carrying debris and remnants of structures through the canyon, following four successive waves of rainfall over two creek drainages during the weekend.
The National Weather Service reported that the Grand Canyon region typically receives less than 25 centimeters of rainfall annually. The recovery of the body of a 46-year-old man near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River was announced by the park service, with little additional information provided. The park service also recovered a second body, details of which were not disclosed in the statement posted on Facebook.
The flash flood destroyed footbridges over the creek and significantly altered the landscape, including widening the creek bed and creating what appeared to be a new river rapid. Various popular tourist spots, such as Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch, and sections of the North Kaibab trail, remained closed for assessment of the damage, with rafting trips on the Colorado River temporarily suspended.
Witnesses, like Parth Desai and Erica Viola, recounted their harrowing experiences during the flood, with Desai’s group narrowly escaping a debris wall and Viola being airlifted to safety from Bright Angel campground. The rapid onset of flooding, with rainfall measuring 1.2 to 2.5 centimeters in just 30 minutes in the steep terrain from Bright Angel Creek to the Colorado River, highlighted the dynamic nature of the Grand Canyon landscape.