15 people may be missing after Grand Canyon flooding as dozens are evacuated

By Maria Aguilar Prieto, Tyler Ory and Mounira Elsamra, CNN

(CNN) — Approximately 15 people may be missing and dozens have been evacuated following a flash flood in Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, according to park officials.

The park service said a previous figure of 20 missing or unaccounted for was a working estimate.

The “significant flash-flood event” occurred in Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area Saturday, according to a news release from the National Park Service.

As of Sunday, least 62 people have been evacuated, the Grand Canyon National Park said in a statement.

“Additional evacuations are planned today from Cottonwood Campground and Phantom Ranch in coordination with Grand Canyon National Park staff and the Arizona Department of Public Safety,” rangers said.

No injuries have been reported as of Sunday afternoon.

The National Park Service is asking anyone who knows of hikers or backpackers who may have been in the affected area to contact the agency’s tip line.

David Gregory told CNN he was hiking with a small group when the flooding cut their trip short.

“We realized the creek near camp was black with debris and flowing rapidly,” he said.

Gregory said they were evacuated by helicopter and taken to a local high school before being set up with a hotel for the night.

The flooding resulted in significant damage to infrastructure throughout the Bright Angel Canyon area, according to the National Park Service.

“Nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, eliminating hiker access across the creek,” the federal agency said.

The powerful floodwaters also widened the creek bed, forming what appeared to be a new river rapid, The Associated Press reported.

The Bright Angel Trail is the most popular hiking trail into the canyon, according to the National Park Service.

A series of storms impacted the Grand Canyon on Saturday, beginning in the early morning and returning in the evening. About 1 inch of rain has been recorded over the past 24 hours.

Showers today have been mostly confined to the north side of the canyon, where rainfall rates of up to 1 inch per hour have been observed. More storms are possible overnight into early Monday. Any storms that develop could produce more flash flooding due to high rainfall rates.

Additional rainfall could also bring more “debris flows, rockfall and changing trail and river conditions,” rangers said.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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