Grand Canyon Flash Floods Leave 15 Hikers Missing, 62 Airlifted, No Injuries

Approximately 15 hikers remain missing after sudden flash flooding struck the Grand Canyon on Saturday afternoon, according to the National Park Service (NPS). The flooding occurred around 2:30 p.m. local time in Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area, prompting an urgent rescue operation that airlifted 62 people to safety with no reported injuries.

Rescue efforts are ongoing as park rangers and emergency responders assess the full extent of the flooding, which caused significant damage to trails and bridges in the inner canyon. The NPS initially reported more than 20 people missing but later revised the number to approximately 15. Officials have urged anyone with information about hikers or backpackers in the Bright Angel Creek corridor to come forward.

Survivors described the sudden and terrifying nature of the flood. Nikki Baggs, 41, who was among those rescued, recounted how she and her two friends were at Phantom Ranch—a remote lodge at the bottom of the canyon—when heavy rain turned into a rushing wall of water. They scrambled to higher ground, only to be moved again by rangers as conditions worsened. They waited for hours before being evacuated just before 9:30 p.m.

"The whole thing was terrifying," Baggs told the BBC. "It was a beautiful day, and then people were screaming and running." She praised the swift and coordinated response by park rangers, which she credited for their safe evacuation. "That’s what made us feel safe in an unsafe situation."

The NPS reported that multiple footbridges were destroyed in the flooding, and trails in the area have been closed until further notice. Forecasts predict additional thunderstorms and heavy rainfall through Monday, raising concerns about further flash flooding, debris flows, and rockfalls that could endanger rescue teams and stranded hikers.

The Grand Canyon National Park, one of the most visited national parks in the United States with around five million visitors annually, remains on high alert. The Bright Angel Trail, the park’s most popular hiking route, is currently inaccessible due to the damage.

Authorities continue to investigate the incident and urge visitors to stay off closed trails and monitor weather updates. Hikers planning to visit the Grand Canyon are advised to check trail conditions and weather forecasts before venturing into the inner canyon.

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