Authorities are investigating the whereabouts of approximately 15 people who may be missing following significant flash flooding in Grand Canyon National Park. The National Park Service (NPS) reported that the flooding struck the park around 2:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, prompting an emergency response that included the air evacuation of at least 62 individuals by Sunday morning.
The affected region encompasses key areas such as the Bright Angel Creek corridor, the North Kaibab Trail, and Phantom Ranch. In response, the park service has closed the entire North Kaibab Trail and Phantom Ranch until further notice and indicated that additional inner canyon closures may be required. The Colorado River has also been shut down due to the presence of metal debris and hazardous conditions.
Park officials are actively seeking information regarding any hikers or backpackers who were in these zones at the time of the flood or who held reservations in nearby campgrounds. While initial social media updates suggested that more than 20 people might be unaccounted for, the precise number of missing individuals remains unclear. As of Sunday morning, no injuries were reported among those evacuated.
The NPS has urged the public to avoid the closed areas and remain vigilant, citing forecasts of continued thunderstorms and heavy rainfall through Monday. These conditions raise the risk of further flash floods and rapidly changing trail and river environments. The National Weather Service in Flagstaff, Arizona, cautioned that flash flooding could occur in creeks, typically dry washes, swimming holes, and recently burned sections of the park. It also highlighted the potential for dangerous currents in side and slot canyons and the flooding of low-water crossings.
The recent heavy rains are part of Arizona’s monsoon season, which runs annually from mid-June to late September. This episode was intensified by moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Iselle, compounded by broader climatic influences including El Niño and marine heatwaves across the Pacific Ocean. Such factors have fueled destructive flooding events across various parts of the United States in recent weeks.
At a weather monitoring station near the North Rim and Bright Angel Creek, 1.24 inches of rainfall was recorded over a three-hour window from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, with 0.84 inches falling in just one hour. The combination of high-intensity rainfall and the park’s steep, rocky, and drought-affected terrain reduced ground absorption, leading to increased runoff into the canyon waterways.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as rescue and recovery efforts proceed amid challenging and potentially hazardous weather conditions.