One person has been confirmed dead and around 15 others are feared missing after a powerful flash flood tore through Arizona’s Grand Canyon, forcing dozens of hikers to be airlifted from the remote inner canyon.
The flooding struck Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area at around 2:30pm on Saturday, sending muddy torrents, boulders and debris surging through Bright Angel Creek and into the Colorado River.
The National Park Service (NPS) said Sunday evening that one person had been recovered from the river, but did not immediately identify the victim. Around 15 people may still be missing or unaccounted for, down from more than 20 earlier in the day.
At least 62 people were evacuated by helicopter from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail.
At least 20 people unaccounted for after flash flooding at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona - officials pic.twitter.com/he0VNiRsLd
Footage from the area showed swollen brown water roaring through the canyon and carrying debris, while campers described scrambling to higher ground as the water rapidly rose.
update: the number of people unaccounted for after the grand canyon flash flooding has been revised from more than 20 to 15. i also found additional footage posted by david j gregory, one of the hikers evacuated from the canyon, in the grand canyon hikers facebook group. https://t.co/cBff99hTvepic.twitter.com/Hb9K91fDof
Nearly all footbridges across Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, while Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground and sections of the North Kaibab Trail were closed indefinitely. The flood also damaged the park’s water pipeline, prompting conservation measures.
The Grand Canyon flash flood comes days after a far deadlier flood and mudslide disaster struck Nepal and neighboring Tibet. At least 788 people have been confirmed dead in Nepal, while around 2,500 remain missing. Over the weekend, dramatic footage emerged showing rescuers pulling a six-year-old girl alive from beneath mud and debris, as search teams raced against time to find possible survivors five days after the calamity.
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