Following a significant flash flood in the Grand Canyon over the weekend, the remains of a Texas chiropractor and at least one other individual have been discovered, with the possibility of additional flooding looming due to heavy rain enveloping the canyon walls. Approximately 80 individuals were rescued during the flood event, and efforts are underway to locate one missing person.

Commander Dave Black mentioned that officials employed night vision and other tools to identify and evacuate individuals in need from the park during the weekend. By utilizing the park’s permit system and cross-checking vehicle license plates, rangers were able to track the count of missing persons.

Grand Canyon deputy superintendent Brian Drapeaux highlighted the likelihood of unregistered day hikers who did not obtain permits and therefore were not categorized as missing by the park. Weather experts cautioned that additional rain and thunderstorms might lead to more flooding at the popular tourist spot, where numerous visitors were evacuated following the storm-triggered flood in Bright Angel Creek on Saturday.

The flood severely damaged the sole water pipeline within the canyon, prompting emergency water usage restrictions for permanent residents, while tourists have been prohibited from lodging at in-park hotels and lodges. Video footage captured muddy, debris-laden floodwaters carrying remnants of a bunkhouse and rocks through the canyon. The National Weather Service reported four successive “waves of rainfall” across two creek drainages over the weekend, resulting in rapid flash flooding onset.

On average, the region receives less than 25 centimeters of rainfall per year, as per the National Park Service’s data.

Bodies Recovered

The park service confirmed the recovery of a 46-year-old man’s body near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River on Sunday evening, while a second body was also retrieved, as stated in a Facebook post by the Grand Canyon National Park without further elaboration.

The torrential waters destroyed footbridges over the creek, significantly altering the landscape and creating what appeared to be a new river rapid. Jack Schmidt, director of the Center for Colorado River Studies at Utah State University, emphasized the dynamic nature of the Grand Canyon landscape.

Various popular tourist spots including Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch, and sections of the North Kaibab trail remained closed for assessment by park officials. Rafting excursions on the Colorado River have been temporarily suspended.

‘Up, up, up, up!’

Physician Parth Desai, alongside a group of colleagues and a park ranger, encountered the sudden downpour while hiking through a narrow passage in Bright Angel Canyon. Witnessing the floodwaters, landslides, and debris flows, Desai described the chaotic scene.

Desai recounted a harrowing moment when they had to flee from a debris wall, seeking refuge among cacti, before being rescued by helicopter near Phantom Ranch. Erica Viola, who was at Bright Angel campground during the onset of rain, observed the rising creek and debris flow, culminating in an early end to her hiking adventure.

Approximately 1.2 to 2.5 centimeters of rain fell in a brief 30-minute span in the rugged area with a steep elevation drop, noted National Weather Service meteorologist Justin Johndrow. The flooding occurred on the north side of the Grand Canyon, where Bright Angel Creek descends from the North Rim to the Colorado River.