Body found as 15 remain missing after devastating Grand Canyon flooding

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. (AZFamily/Gray News) — A man’s body was recovered after flash flooding tore through the Grand Canyon on Saturday afternoon, leaving 15 people missing, the National Park Service said.

The body of a 46-year-old man was recovered Sunday along the Colorado River near Crystal Rapids, park officials said. In addition, about 15 people remained unaccounted for that evening.

Park officials initially estimated more than 20 people were missing but revised that figure to about 15 just before 3 p.m. Sunday. The update came after officials announced dozens of people had been rescued from the area.

The flooding began about 2:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Park Service.

Rescuers had airlifted 62 people out of Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail by Sunday morning. Additional evacuations were scheduled Sunday at Cottonwood Campground and Phantom Ranch, coordinated by the Park Service and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Evacuees are being taken to the Maswik Lodge Cafeteria on the South Rim, where the American Red Cross is assisting.

The National Park Service is asking anyone with information about hikers or backpackers who were in the inner canyon along the Bright Angel Creek corridor on Saturday or anyone who had a campground reservation in that area to contact investigators at 888-653-0009 or email nps_isb@nps.gov.

Closures in effect

The following areas are closed until further notice:

• Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, the Phantom Ranch Canteen and cabins
• The entire North Kaibab Trail from the North Kaibab Trailhead to Phantom Ranch
• The Black Bridge and Silver Bridge crossing the Colorado River

Officials have not given a reopening timeline and said additional inner-canyon closures may be necessary.

Widespread damage to trails and bridges

The flooding caused widespread damage throughout Bright Angel Canyon, officials said. Nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, cutting off hiker access across the creek.

The Colorado River is also closed to river traffic until further notice after metal structures and debris washed into the water. River parties already in the canyon are receiving guidance from river operations rangers through the Grand Canyon River Alert system.

Damage to water pipeline

The flooding also caused damage to the Transcanyon Waterline that supplies water from the canyon for use in the park.

“The waterline is currently not operational, leaving the park with limited water reserves and requiring significant water conservation measures to ensure available supplies can be maintained,” said park officials in a statement.

Stage 4 water restrictions will begin on Monday at noon at the South Rim of the park.

The park is closing all overnight hotel accommodations effective Monday. This includes hotel facilities operated by Xanterra, such as El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, and Phantom Ranch, as well as Delaware North’s Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village.

Only dry camping will be allowed as spigot access will be turned off. The park will remain open for day use, officials said.