At least one person has died and about 15 others remain missing or unaccounted for after a major flash flood hit the Grand Canyon in Arizona, according to authorities. The National Park Service said the flood struck Saturday afternoon in the Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch areas, sweeping large boulders, metal structures and other debris into the Colorado River. At least 62 people were evacuated.
The Park Service said the body of a 46-year-old man was recovered Sunday evening near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River. The flooding also knocked out the only water pipeline serving residents and tourists in the area.
“The National Park Service is asking the public to provide information for approximately 15 individuals who may be missing or unaccounted for following a significant flash-flood event,” the agency said in a statement.
READ: El Niño is roaring back — and this one could be historic (August 31, 2026)
“The whole thing was terrifying,” said Nikki Baggs, 41, who was among those airlifted from the bottom of the Grand Canyon with two friends. “It was a beautiful day and then people were screaming, running,” she told the BBC. Baggs added that she and her friends had been looking forward to a steak dinner at Phantom Ranch but were now grateful to be alive, thanks to the quick response from park rangers. “It was a really uniquely coordinated effort,” she said. “That’s what made us feel safe about all of it in an unsafe situation.”
Baggs said she and her friends watched from higher ground as bridges were swept away.
The NPS initially said it was seeking information about more than 20 people believed to be missing or unaccounted for. It later revised that number down to “approximately 15.”
READ: Washington wildfires devastate Spokane area as thousands flee (August 3, 2026)
The agency said the flooding caused significant damage in some areas and that trails in the area have been closed. Overnight guest lodging on the South Rim will be suspended from Monday until further notice after the floods caused “extensive damage” to the national park’s water infrastructure, according to the BBC.
The NPS also warned that more thunderstorms and heavy rainfall were forecast for Sunday and Monday, potentially causing “additional flash flooding, debris flows, rockfall and changing trail and river conditions.”
National Weather Service meteorologist Darren McCollum said about 0.5 to 1 inch (1 to 2.5 cm) of rain fell within about 20 minutes on a rocky slope where there is a steep drop in elevation. Two smaller weather systems had drenched the area in the preceding hours.
“So when the main storm moved in, torrential rain fell on everything that was already soaked, and that caused all the problems that we’re seeing,” McCollum said.