Two people have died and around 15 remain missing or unaccounted for after a powerful flash flood tore through parts of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The disaster struck Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area on August 29 after several rounds of thunderstorms dumped intense rainfall over the canyon in a short period. One victim was a 46-year-old man whose body was recovered near Crystal Rapids on the Colorado River, while the National Park Service later confirmed a second death. At least 62 people were evacuated, many by helicopter. Nearly all pedestrian bridges crossing Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, sections of the North Kaibab Trail became inaccessible, and Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground remain closed.
Meteorologists say the disaster was caused by several waves of rainfall that first saturated the drainage system before a final intense storm triggered the major flood. The National Weather Service estimated that between 0.25 and 0.75 inches – roughly 6 to 19mm – of rain fell in around 30 minutes over parts of the Bright Angel Creek basin. In the Grand Canyon’s steep terrain and narrow side canyons, water can run off almost immediately and transform normally small or dry channels into violent torrents. The risk was increased by the burn scar left by the enormous Dragon Bravo wildfire in 2025, which scorched about 149,000 acres, or more than 600 square kilometres. Burned slopes often absorb less water and are more vulnerable to rapid runoff, erosion, mudflows and debris flows during intense rainfall.
The flood also caused extensive damage to vital infrastructure. The Transcanyon Waterline, the main system supplying water to much of the park, was badly damaged and around 40% of the pipeline is reported to have been destroyed. A $208 million project to replace and modernise the ageing system had been under way and was scheduled for completion in 2027. Severe water restrictions have now been imposed, while overnight hotel stays on the South Rim have temporarily been suspended. Search and rescue teams continue to work through the affected areas as forecasters warn that further thunderstorms could produce additional flash floods, debris flows and rockfalls. More than 4.4 million people visited Grand Canyon National Park in 2025, making the disaster a major blow to one of the United States’ most visited natural attractions.
Sources: National Park Service, National Weather Service, Reuters, Associated Press.
