The immediate challenge at the Grand Canyon is no longer just getting people out of the flood zone. Park officials are also trying to determine who may still be in the inner canyon after a sudden surge of water swept through the Bright Angel Creek corridor Saturday.
The National Park Service said Sunday that 15 people remained unaccounted for, down from an earlier estimate of more than 20. Officials are asking anyone who knows of hikers, backpackers or campers who were in the area Saturday to contact the park’s investigative branch so crews can determine whether those individuals are safe.
More than 60 people had already been evacuated from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail. No injuries had been reported, but the flooding caused significant damage, destroying nearly all of the footbridges over Bright Angel Creek and prompting closures of Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, the North Kaibab Trail and two Colorado River bridges.
The scale of the damage could make reopening the inner canyon a lengthy process. Park crews are still evaluating trails, utilities and facilities, while debris and damaged metal structures have also forced a temporary closure of the Colorado River to boat traffic. With additional storms possible, officials face both a search-and-rescue operation and a substantial infrastructure cleanup.
