Grand Canyon floods kill two, one missing

Flash flooding in the Grand Canyon has killed two people and left one individual missing. The National Park Service (NPS) confirmed the fatalities after floodwaters struck on Saturday afternoon.

At least two people died after the deluge, which wiped out footbridges and sent boulders downstream. Incident Commander Dave Black described the deceased as adult males. The NPS earlier reported finding the body of a 46-year-old man near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River.

Rescue crews have been working to account for all visitors. Thirty people were initially unaccounted for. Rangers have since located all but one. Crews will search for the final missing person on Tuesday morning in the area between Phantom Ranch and Cottonwood Manzanita.

Evacuation efforts at Phantom Ranch

Phantom Ranch, at the canyon's bottom, was one of the hardest-hit areas. Dozens of people required airlift evacuations. An initial group of 45 people was evacuated by air on Saturday. A remaining group of 37 was evacuated by Sunday afternoon.

Nikki Baggs, 41, was among those airlifted out with two friends. She described the event as terrifying. Crews had worked incredibly hard to get the situation under control, said Incident Commander Dave Black.

Widespread damage to infrastructure

The flooding caused extensive damage to park infrastructure. The "significant" flooding began in Bright Angel Canyon around 14:30 local time on Saturday. Nearly all footbridges across Bright Angel Creek were destroyed.

The parks service closed Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, the entire North Kaibab Trail to Phantom Ranch, Black Bridge, Silver Bridge, and the Colorado River. Preliminary assessments indicate about 40% of the Transcanyon Waterline was damaged or destroyed. This pipeline delivers water for visitors and approximately 2,500 residents.

Monsoonal weather triggers flooding

The recent rains are due to monsoonal showers common in the southwestern US. A seasonal change in wind direction pulls warm, moist air northward from the Gulf of California and the tropical Pacific. This triggers storms over mountainous terrain.

These storms are difficult to pinpoint in forecasts and can strike without warning. Because the ground is usually very dry, heavy downpours lead to dangerous flash flooding. The storms also bring frequent lightning, which increases the threat of wildfires.

Further heavy rain was forecast overnight from Monday into Tuesday. This brings an elevated risk of additional flash flooding to the area. The Grand Canyon is one of the most popular national parks in the US, with about five million visitors each year. The damaged Bright Angel trail is its most popular hike.