Grand Canyon Flash Floods: One Dead, 15 Missing
BBC News reports on a devastating flash flood event in the Grand Canyon, which resulted in one death and 15 people still missing as of 24 minutes ago.
One person has died and 15 remain unaccounted for after flash flooding struck the Grand Canyon on Saturday, according to the National Park Service (NPS). The flood occurred around 14:30 local time (22:30 BST) in Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area.
The body of a 46-year-old man was discovered on Sunday evening near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River, CBS News revealed. Sixty-two people have been airlifted out of the affected area to safety.
"The whole thing was terrifying," said Nikki Baggs, a survivor, describing the event. “It was a beautiful day and then people were screaming, running."
Baggs, who was evacuated along with her two friends, recounted their experience:
- They had just dropped off their belongings at a cabin in Phantom Ranch when the rain started.
- Upon realizing the gravity of the situation, they headed towards higher ground.
- Rangers instructed them to run again to a different ledge, where they waited for hours until their evacuation at 21:30 local time.
The NPS initially sought information about over 20 missing individuals, later revising the number to around 15. The park reported significant damage in certain areas, with trails closed and overnight guest lodgings in the South Rim halted until further notice due to extensive damage to water infrastructure.
As thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are predicted for Sunday and Monday, the NPS warns of potential additional flash flooding, debris flows, rockfall, and changing trail and river conditions.