“Terrifying” flash flooding in Grand Canyon killed one as over a dozen of hikers feared missing.
According to CNN, a flash flood on Sunday, August 30, tore through the national park in Arizona, destroying footbridges and forcing dozens of hikers and campers to evacuate.
The park officials said on Sunday night that a 46-year-old man lost his life in the flooding whose body was recovered near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River.
Park officials said the flooding has also knocked out a water pipeline serving tourists at the national park, leaving the park with limited water resources. This will significantly limit visitor activity at the park ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend.
The affected water pipeline provides potable water and fire suppression for all facilities on the South Rim, an area with a large concentration of hiking trails, scenic viewpoints, lodging and visitor services.
The “significant flash-flood event” began after a series of storms swept over Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area Saturday, according to a news release from the National Park Service.
As of Sunday afternoon, at least 62 people have been evacuated, the Grand Canyon National Park said in a statement.
Additional evacuations are planned Sunday in a coordinated effort between Grand Canyon National Park staff and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
The National Park Service is asking anyone who knows of hikers or backpackers who may have been in the affected area to contact the agency’s tip line.
