Rescue teams at the Grand Canyon have narrowed the search to a single missing person after flash floods tore through a popular hiking corridor on Saturday, killing two men and leaving dozens initially unaccounted for. The torrent, triggered by a monsoonal downpour on the canyon's North Rim, sent a surge of water, rock, and debris down Bright Angel Canyon, overwhelming campgrounds near Phantom Ranch and damaging vital infrastructure.
By late Monday, incident commander Dave Black of the National Park Service told reporters in Grand Canyon Village, Arizona, that 82 people had been rescued over the weekend and that nearly all known visitors had been located. “There is one person unaccounted for that we know of right now,” he said, adding that rangers had cross-referenced camping permits, license plates, and family reports to track down those who had been in the flood zone.
Search hampered by more rain
Efforts to find the remaining missing hiker were complicated on Monday by another round of heavy rain, a typical feature of the region's summer monsoon season. The downpours frequently trigger flash floods in the arid washes and gullies that crisscross northern Arizona, where the parched soil absorbs little water. Black said clearer weather expected on Tuesday would aid the search, which also aims to account for day hikers who do not require permits. “We are absolutely holding out hope that that person is still alive,” he said.
The flooding also caused significant damage to the Transcanyon Waterline, a 20-kilometre pipeline that supplies drinking water and fire-suppression capacity from Roaring Springs on the North Rim to the South Rim. The park service reported that 40% of the pipeline was damaged or destroyed, prompting water restrictions in the most visited areas and a ban on wood and charcoal fires where firefighting water may be scarce. Footbridges across Bright Angel Creek were washed out, blocking hikers from crossing.
Despite the tragedy, the Grand Canyon remained open to visitors. On Monday, dozens of tourists, many from abroad, stood on the South Rim under umbrellas and rain ponchos, snapping photos and peering toward the Colorado River far below. Trails descending from the South Rim were passable, but staff warned of sudden squalls and the dangers of flash flooding, which the park's website notes are most common from July to mid-September.
The incident echoes similar flood risks across the American Southwest, but it also serves as a reminder for European travellers who flock to such iconic natural sites. As southern Europe faces its own flash-flood threats from Mediterranean heat, the need for caution in arid landscapes is universal. The National Park Service urges visitors to check weather forecasts and avoid narrow canyons during storm warnings.
For those planning hikes into the canyon, the descent from popular trailheads can take around four hours, with the return journey often adding another six. Rangers advise carrying ample water, monitoring the sky, and heeding all warnings. The search for the missing hiker continues, with teams scouring the flood-ravaged terrain and holding out hope for a positive outcome.
