The National Park Service (NPS) in the United States stated on August 30th that a flash flood in the Grand Canyon has led to the death of one person and multiple others missing.
The park service announced on Sunday evening that the body of a 46-year-old man was found near Crystal Rapids on the banks of the Colorado River. Local forensic experts have been dispatched to the scene. The management department indicated that there is currently no additional information available about the deceased individual.
Approximately 15 people are reported missing or unaccounted for, and several dozen visitors have been evacuated. The only water pipeline available for visitors and residents has been destroyed.
The National Weather Service (NWS) mentioned on Monday morning, “Due to abundant monsoon moisture and saturated soil in some areas, the risk of flash flooding remains high on Monday.”
The Grand Canyon, a 1.2 million-acre national park located in Arizona, welcomes over 4 million visitors annually.
Earlier on Sunday, the park service reported that flash floods occurred in Bright Angel Canyon leading to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area, resulting in over 20 individuals possibly missing or unaccounted for.
Park staff at Grand Canyon National Park, with assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, are evacuating stranded individuals and searching for the missing. The management urges anyone who knows of individuals hiking or backpacking along Bright Angel Creek or those who have reservations at Bright Angel Campground to promptly contact the park service.
The flash flood occurred on August 29th. The park service stated that the flood caused “severe damage” to infrastructure, including a water pipeline supplying the park with water from the canyon.
As a result, Grand Canyon National Park will suspend all overnight accommodations on the South Rim (the park’s most visited area) starting from Monday. Affected facilities include Bright Angel Lodge and Phantom Ranch.
Facilities located in Tusayan town will remain open.
Additionally, the park will implement water restrictions on the South Rim starting from noon on Monday. Water spigots at camping areas will be shut off, but restroom facilities will remain operational. Until further notice, all fires are prohibited on the South Rim and within the canyon area.