Updated

Updated · CBS New York · Aug 30

Grand Canyon Evacuates 62 After Flash Floods Destroy Footbridges, Leaving 20+ Unaccounted

Updated

Updated · CBS New York · Aug 30

Grand Canyon Evacuates 62 After Flash Floods Destroy Footbridges, Leaving 20+ Unaccounted

Q: With over 20 people unaccounted for, what hidden dangers are complicating the ongoing inner-canyon rescue efforts?

The rescue effort is being complicated less by the number of missing people than by a cascade of hidden hazards inside the canyon: unstable terrain, destroyed crossings, and dangerous debris in fast-changing water. Park officials say nearly all footbridges over Bright Angel Creek were wiped out, and the Black Bridge and Silver Bridge over the Colorado River were also washed out. That has cut off normal foot access, isolated sections of the inner canyon, and forced rescuers to rely heavily on helicopters rather than ground teams. The flood also swept a metal building and other debris into the Colorado River, prompting a shutdown of river traffic. That means rescuers cannot easily use the river as an alternate route, and debris in the water creates collision and entanglement risks for boats and anyone near the banks. Just as serious is the terrain itself. Officials warned that additional thunderstorms could trigger more flash flooding, debris flows and rockfall. In the Grand Canyon, even roughly 1 to 1.75 inches of rain can funnel rapidly through steep side canyons; in this event, river gauges rose as much as 9 feet. That makes conditions highly unstable even after the rain appears to stop, with trails turning impassable and runoff surging suddenly through narrow areas such as “the Box.” The result is a rescue environment where access routes are broken, water and debris remain hazardous, and weather could quickly worsen, slowing efforts to locate those still unaccounted for.

3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Aug 30

62 people were airlifted from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail after floodwaters tore through Bright Angel Canyon around 2:30 p.m., with additional evacuations planned from Cottonwood Campground and Phantom Ranch.
Nearly all footbridges across Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, cutting off hiker access as park staff assessed damage to trails, utilities, facilities and other infrastructure; no injuries were reported.
More than 20 people may still be unaccounted for, and the National Park Service asked anyone with information about hikers, campers or backpackers in the Bright Angel Creek corridor to contact investigators.
Closures remain in place for Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, the full North Kaibab Trail to Phantom Ranch, both Colorado River bridges and parts of the river, with no reopening date.
The canyon flooding capped a severe Arizona monsoon outbreak that also brought Phoenix 113-degree heat, dust storms with 55 mph gusts and flash-flood watches across the metro area.