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NewsWPLG Local 10August 30, 2026Miami-Dade

National Park Service evacuates dozens and searches for missing persons following Grand Canyon flash flood

The National Park Service evacuated dozens of people from the Grand Canyon after a flash flood in Bright Angel Creek destroyed infrastructure and altered the landscape. Officials are currently seeking information on 15 individuals who may be missing or unaccounted for following the Saturday afternoon event.

emergency managementGrand CanyonNational Park Serviceflash floodpublic safety
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Why It Matters

The flooding has resulted in the closure of popular tourist areas including Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch, and parts of the North Kaibab trail, while halting all rafting trips on the Colorado River.

Key Facts

  • The National Park Service is searching for 15 people who may be missing or unaccounted for.
  • More than 60 people were evacuated from the Phantom Ranch area via helicopter.
  • Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch, and parts of the North Kaibab trail are closed.
  • All rafting trips on the Colorado River in the affected area have been halted.
  • The flash flood destroyed footbridges and significantly altered the creek bed landscape.
  • Rainfall of 0.5 to 1 inch occurred within 30 minutes on Saturday afternoon.
  • The flooding occurred on the north side of the Grand Canyon where the creek drops 6,000 feet (1,828 meters).
  • No injuries have been reported as of the time of the report.
  • Additional rain and thunderstorms are possible in the area through Monday.

Who's Mentioned

other60“Number of people evacuated from Phantom Ranch”personJack Schmidt“Director of the Center for Colorado River Studies at Utah State University”personParth Desai“Witness and hiker rescued from the canyon”personJustin Johndrow“National Weather Service meteorologist”organizationArizona Department of Public Safety“Assisting with ongoing evacuations”personErica Viola“Witness and evacuee from Bright Angel Campground”other1,828“Elevation drop in meters for Bright Angel Creek”organizationNational Park Service“Managing the emergency response and evacuations”