Search and rescue efforts continued Aug. 31 after two people died and more than a dozen were still missing when a deadly flash flood ripped through parts of the Grand Canyon two days earlier.
A significant flash flood began at about 2:30 p.m. August 29 in Bright Angel Canyon, according to Grand Canyon National Park officials.
The Park Service also said a preliminary assessment found about 40% of the Transcanyon Waterline was damaged or destroyed.
Forecast weather for the area could affect the timing and pace of search and recovery operations, officials said.
A flood watch remained in effect at Grand Canyon Village through the evening of Aug. 31. The National Weather Service forecast calls for showers and thunderstorms, with a 90% chance of precipitation
during the day.
Can you still visit Grand Canyon after flooding? What's open, closed?
The national park remains open, but there are significant closures. The North Kaibab Trail, Phantom Ranch and Silver and Black Bridges are closed until further notice. Also, the Colorado River is closed to river traffic.
Beginning Aug. 31, the park is implementing Stage 4 water restrictions because of the extensive damage to the Transcanyon Waterline. Overnight guest lodging, including El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, Phantom Ranch, Delaware North’s Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village, are closed.
Only dry camping will be permitted; spigot access will be turned off at campgrounds, but faucets in bathrooms will remain operational.
Where is flash flooding happening at the Grand Canyon?
For more than four hours on Aug. 29, rain fell across the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and down into the Canyon floor, triggering a flash flood. It swept down Bright Angel Canyon to Phantom Ranch on the Colorado River, washing out a water line, a bridge and other infrastructure.
How many people are missing/dead after the Grand Canyon flash flood?
Two people are confirmed dead, including a 46-year-old man, and as of Aug. 31, about 15 remained missing.
How did rescuers evacuate people from the flooded Grand Canyon?
At least 62 people were evacuated from Phantom Ranch, the lower North Kaibab Trail and Cottonwood Campground, many by helicopter.
What is Phantom Ranch? Why did Grand Canyon flooding hit so hard there?
Phantom Ranch is a lodge at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, offering dormitories and cabins. It is closed until further notice, and the area was evacuated. It was impacted heavily because of its location at the bottom of the canyon.
Anyone with information on those who may have been traveling from the North Kaibab Trailhead to Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground and "The Box" area north of Phantom Ranch was asked to contact the park service's investigative services branch tip line. The number is 888-653-0009.
What is "The Box" at the Grand Canyon? Why are rescuers focused on the area?
“The Box” is a narrow section of trail north of Phantom Ranch, with tight canyon walls and very few escape routes if hikers become trapped.
Why do flash floods happen so fast at the Grand Canyon?
According to the National Park Service, the arid, sparsely vegetated environment has little capacity to absorb rainfall, so runoff quickly moves through narrow canyons and steep terrain. A flood can travel miles from the rainfall that generated it, so flash floods can occur when there is no rain in an area. Even a small storm can create a flash flood.
Has the Grand Canyon flooded like this before?
A woman was killed in a flash flood at Havasu Falls in August 2024, which also displaced residents living on the Havasupai Reservation. On Sept. 11, 1997, two hikers died in flash flooding at Grand Canyon National Park. A third person survived after being swept miles downstream from a storm that dropped only trace amounts at Phantom Ranch but 2 inches near the rim of the canyon.
Corina Vanek covers development for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at cvanek@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X @CorinaVanek.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Multiple people still missing after deadly Grand Canyon flash flooding
