One person still missing after Grand Canyon flash floods, two confirmed dead

A powerful monsoon downpour struck the northern side of the Grand Canyon on Saturday, sending water, rock and debris surging down a popular hiking route and flooding campgrounds in Bright Angel Canyon and near the historic Phantom Ranch.

National Park Service spokesperson Dave Black said late Monday that nearly everyone known to have been in the canyon had been located. Two men died in the flood and their bodies were recovered by search and rescue teams, while one person remains unaccounted for.

A total of 82 people were rescued over Saturday and Sunday. Rangers cross-checked camping permits, vehicle license plates and other records, and contacted families to confirm people's whereabouts.

Further heavy rain on Monday, typical of the region's seasonal monsoon, slowed search efforts. Black said improved weather expected Tuesday should aid the continued search for the missing person and any unpermitted day hikers who may have been caught in the flooding.

Pipeline damage

The floods damaged or destroyed roughly 40% of the Transcanyon Waterline, the 20-kilometre pipeline that carries drinking water and fire-suppression supplies from the Roaring Springs source on the North Rim to the South Rim. As a result, the park has imposed water restrictions in its busiest area and banned wood and charcoal fires where limited water supply could hinder firefighting.

The flooding also destroyed footbridges and blocked hikers from crossing Bright Angel Creek. Despite the disaster, the Grand Canyon remained open, with foreign tourists seen taking photos and viewing the Colorado River from the South Rim on Monday despite the rain. Park staff warned visitors of the risk of sudden storms and urged extra caution during the monsoon season, which runs from July to mid-September.