More than 20 hikers and backpackers remain unaccounted for after significant flash flooding struck popular trails in Arizona’s Grand Canyon, with authorities confirming that 62 people were evacuated from the area and all footbridges over Bright Angel Creek destroyed.
More than 20 hikers and backpackers making their way through Arizona’s Grand Canyon have been declared missing following flash floods that struck parts of the scenic canyon on Saturday afternoon. Authorities are searching for at least 20 unaccounted people, believed to have been trekking on routes near Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area of the national park. More than 62 people were evacuated from the site amid the flooding, which authorities have described as “significant.”
Where the missing were last known to be
Officials are asking the public to help identify anyone who was travelling near the North Kaibab Trail, between the North Kaibab Trailhead and Phantom Ranch, at the time of the flooding. This includes anyone staying at Bright Angel Campground, as well as those travelling or staying in the area known as “the Box,” located north of Phantom Ranch.
Phantom Ranch itself is a popular lodge among visitors and hikers, situated near the Grand Canyon close to Bright Angel Creek.
Damage to infrastructure
All footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were destroyed during the flooding, leaving pedestrians unable to cross the now-flooded waterway. The Black and Silver bridges, along with access to the Colorado River in the affected area, have been closed “until further notice,” authorities said.
What the National Park Service has said
The National Park Service confirmed that response efforts remain ongoing as officials work to account for everyone who may have been in the affected area. In a statement, the agency said: “Grand Canyon National Park staff, in coordination with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, are continuing evacuation and response efforts and working to account for individuals who may have been in the affected area.”
Scenes from the flooding
Footage from the scene showed mudslides tearing through the landscape, with hikers filming the dramatic scenes from a suspended bridge above the affected area, capturing the scale and speed of the flash flooding as it swept through the canyon.
