Grand Canyon Floods Kill One as Search Continues for Missing Hikers

A flash flood has swept through the Grand Canyon, killing one person and leaving approximately fifteen others missing in the remote inner reaches of the national park. The flood, which struck just after 2:30pm local time on Saturday, caused significant damage to trails and infrastructure at the bottom of the canyon, prompting a large-scale rescue operation that has so far airlifted sixty-two people to safety.

The body of a 46-year-old man was discovered on Sunday evening near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River, according to the National Park Service. The agency, which initially sought information on more than twenty people thought to be missing, later revised that number down to about fifteen. A search for the remaining hikers and backpackers continues, with officials appealing for anyone with information about individuals who were in the Bright Angel Creek corridor on Saturday to come forward.

For those caught in the sudden deluge, the experience was one of terror and narrow escape. Nikki Baggs, 41, who was airlifted from the canyon floor on Saturday alongside two friends, described the idyllic scene turning to chaos in an instant. "It was a beautiful day and then people were screaming, running," she told the BBC. The group had just dropped off their belongings at Phantom Ranch, a remote lodge, when they decided to venture out to enjoy the afternoon. Within moments, a surge of water was sweeping through the area, forcing them to scramble to higher ground.

As the rain intensified, Baggs and her companions sought refuge at a picnic table, before rangers shouted for them to move again to a different ledge, where they remained with other stranded visitors for hours before being evacuated by helicopter. The group, who had been anticipating a steak dinner at the ranch, instead found themselves grateful for their lives. Baggs praised the park rangers’ swift and coordinated response, which she said was the only thing that made them feel safe in such an unsafe situation.

The National Park Service has warned that more thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are forecast for Sunday and Monday, raising the risk of additional flash floods, debris flows, and rockfalls that could further complicate rescue efforts and change trail conditions in the area. The flooding has already caused extensive damage to the park’s water infrastructure, leading to the suspension of overnight guest lodgings on the South Rim from Monday until further notice. The Grand Canyon, which attracts about five million visitors each year, has seen its most popular route, the Bright Angel Trail, closed as the park deals with the aftermath of the devastating weather.