31st August 2026 – (Los Angeles) Authorities in the United States have reported that more than twenty people may be missing or unaccounted for following a substantial flash flood within Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. The incident, described as a significant flash-flood event, took place on Saturday in Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area, prompting an urgent appeal from the US National Park Service for any information regarding hikers, backpackers or campers who may have been present in the affected areas during 29th August. The park service has called on the public to contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch should they have relevant knowledge about individuals who might have been in the area.
Evacuation and emergency response operations continue, with the National Park Service working in close coordination with the Arizona Department of Public Safety to account for those who may be missing. By Sunday morning, park officials confirmed that sixty-two people had already been evacuated from the area, and further evacuations are planned. The flood caused extensive damage to infrastructure throughout Bright Angel Canyon, with reports noting that almost all footbridges over Bright Angel Creek had been destroyed, preventing hikers from crossing and further complicating rescue efforts. In response, authorities have closed parts of Grand Canyon National Park and suspended river traffic on the Colorado River due to debris and metal structures being swept into the waterway.