Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Grand Canyon Flood Kills Two as More Than 20 Missing
A powerful rainstorm caused a sudden flood in the Grand Canyon on Saturday.
Water rushed through Bright Angel Creek toward the Colorado River.
The flood carried mud, huge rocks and other debris.
It damaged bridges, trails and buildings.
The Park Service said two people died.
More than 20 other people may still be missing or unaccounted for, although the exact number was unclear.
Sixty-two people were evacuated, including hikers and guests near Phantom Ranch.
The flood also broke the park’s main water pipeline.
Because there is not enough water, overnight stays inside the park were stopped while officials searched and assessed the damage.
The National Park Service confirmed that two people died after Saturday’s flash flood in Bright Angel Creek.
Officials said more than 20 people may be missing or unaccounted for, while 62 people were evacuated.
Mud, boulders and debris damaged trails, footbridges, the landscape and other inner-canyon infrastructure.
The flood knocked out the Transcanyon Waterline, forcing the closure of overnight accommodations inside the park.
About 0.5 to 1 inch of rain fell in roughly 20 minutes on already saturated ground.
- Who
- Grand Canyon visitors, hikers and campers were affected; the National Park Service reported two deaths, more than 20 potentially missing people and 62 evacuations.
- What
- A flash flood caused deaths, possible missing persons, evacuations, infrastructure damage and the closure of overnight accommodations inside the park.
- When
- The flooding occurred Saturday; one victim’s body was recovered Sunday, and the second death was confirmed by Monday.
- Where
- The flood struck Bright Angel Creek on the north side of the Grand Canyon, near Phantom Ranch and the Colorado River in Arizona.
- Why
- About 0.5 to 1 inch of rain fell in approximately 20 minutes on ground already soaked by earlier storms.
Initial Account
Updated Account
Death toll
Initial Account
An earlier National Park Service account reported one confirmed death, involving a 46-year-old man whose body was recovered Sunday.
Updated Account
A later Park Service update confirmed that two people had died in the flooding.
Missing-person estimate
Initial Account
An earlier report said about 15 people remained missing or unaccounted for.
Updated Account
A later report said officials were seeking information about more than 20 people who might be missing, while acknowledging that the exact number was unclear.
- Confirmed deaths
- The National Park Service confirmed two deaths; the remains of a 46-year-old man were found near Crystal Rapids on Sunday.
- Potentially missing
- The Park Service said more than 20 people may be missing or unaccounted for, though the precise number remained unclear.
- Evacuations
- As of Sunday morning, 62 people had been evacuated from Phantom Ranch and the North Kaibab Trail.
- Damaged water system
- The flood knocked the Transcanyon Waterline out of operation, leaving the park with limited water reserves.
- Lodging closures
- Overnight accommodations and other concessions inside the park were closed because of water shortages; lodging remained available in Tusayan.
- Rainfall
- The National Weather Service reported about 0.5 to 1 inch of rain in roughly 20 minutes.
- Pipeline project
- A $208 million pipeline rehabilitation and water-system upgrade began in 2023 and was expected to finish next year.
