Grand Canyon flash flood leaves 15 missing, 62 evacuated; further storms feared - The Times of India

**Grand Canyon flash flood leaves 15 missing, 62 evacuated; further storms feared**

A sudden, intense thunderstorm triggered a flash flood that surged through the Grand Canyon’s South Rim on Saturday afternoon, overwhelming the narrow canyon floor and forcing the evacuation of 62 visitors and staff members. The National Park Service (NPS) confirmed that one hiker was found deceased, while 15 others remain missing after being swept into the Colorado River near the popular Phantom Ranch and North Kaibab Trailhead. The deluge ripped a bunkhouse from its foundation, sent massive boulders crashing downstream, and temporarily closed both the Phantom Ranch campground and the North Kaibab Trail, which are among the canyon’s most frequented visitor sites.

Rescue crews from the NPS, U.S. Forest Service, local sheriff’s offices, and air‑rescue units were dispatched within hours, employing helicopters, high‑water rescue boats, and ground search teams. By nightfall, officials had recovered the body of the deceased hiker and had begun systematic searches for the missing, focusing on likely river drift paths and nearby side canyons. The NPS also activated its Emergency Operations Center, issuing an “all‑clear” for the South Rim while maintaining a heightened presence along the river corridor to assist in recovery and to monitor for additional hazards.

Meteorologists warn that the weather system responsible for the flash flood is moving eastward, bringing the possibility of further heavy rain and thunderstorms to the region over the next 48 hours. Park officials have urged all visitors to remain indoors, avoid the river, and heed any future evacuation orders, while the NPS is reviewing its early‑warning protocols to better protect guests during rapidly developing weather events. The incident underscores the inherent risks of flash flooding in arid canyon environments and is expected to prompt a review of safety measures for high‑traffic trailheads and backcountry facilities.