At least 2 dead in Grand Canyon flash flooding as urgent search for missing continues
Rescuers are bracing for more treacherous weather at the Grand Canyon Monday as authorities confirmed another body had been recovered amid a search for 14 people who “may be missing or unaccounted” in a deadly flash flood that struck the national park over the weekend.
The National Park Service said the body was pulled from the flooded area, bringing the death toll to two.
On Sunday evening, officials said the body of a 46-year-old man was recovered near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River.
The names of the deceased have not been released.
Flood survivors told ABC News that they ran for their lives when a flood swept through the floor of the Grand Canyon on Saturday afternoon, wiping out campgrounds, structures, hiking trails and vital infrastructure, according to officials.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the Grand Canyon through at least Monday evening, warning that "flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible" for all of northern and central Arizona.
Air evacuations continued on Sunday afternoon, a day after a "significant flash flood" swept through campgrounds and hiking trails at the bottom of the national park, authorities said.
The Grand Canyon National Park Service said in an update Sunday evening that one person was recovered from the Colorado River in the park. The identity of the deceased individual has not been released.
NPS said there are at least 14 other individuals "who may be missing or unaccounted" following the flash flood.
"The National Park Service is asking anyone who knows of hikers or backpackers who were in the inner canyon along the Bright Angel Creek corridor on August 29, as well as anyone who had a campground reservation in the affected corridor, to provide information to the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch (ISB)," the statement said.
Earlier Sunday, the National Park Service (NPS) officials said more than 20 were missing and 62 individuals were air evacuated from Grand Canyon's Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail, "which was affected by a significant flash-flood event Saturday afternoon."
Evacuees were being taken to the Maswik Lodge Cafeteria on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, where the American Red Cross is coordinating assistance.
No injuries were immediately reported.
The latest National Park Service said the flash flooding knocked out the park's water pipeline, prompting "significant water conservation measures" to be implemented. Those measures include: no overnight hotel stays allowed starting Monday, and only campground bathroom faucets will still run.
"Multiple campgrounds and trails are closed until further notice, and there is no estimated reopening date for the affected areas," the Grand Canyon NPS said.
Grand Canyon National Park staff, in coordination with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, were continuing air evacuations on Sunday afternoon, officials said.
"Grand Canyon will possibly face additional thunderstorms and heavy rainfall today and Monday, which could result in flash flooding, debris flow, and rockfall," the Grand Canyon NPS statement said.
Flash flooding unfolded about 2:30 p.m. local time on Saturday in the Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch area, both popular destinations for hikers.
"The flash flood resulted in significant impacts to infrastructure throughout Bright Angel Canyon. Nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, eliminating hiker access across the creek," the Grand Canyon NPS said.
Videos of the flooding obtained by ABC News show a roaring Colorado River as mudflows and debris from metal structures are seen floating down the river.
Erica Viola, who recorded the videos, told ABC News she was camping at Bright Angel Campground when she and her husband, Scott Svedin, had to evacuate. Viola said that she lost most of her belongings in the flooding.
Viola said that she and other campers were told by park rangers to run as fast as they could to the nearest bridge for evacuation.
Svedin said that as they were headed for the bridge, people were scrambling to beat the rising water.
"We just heard people yell, 'Run, run, run!' And there's 40 of us running through this deep, muddy water, trying to make it to the bridge," Viola said. "Once we got to the bridge, that's when this 15-foot wall of water came through the campground in Phantom Ranch and just wiped out all the bridges in the creek."
Viola and Svedin said they witnessed bunkhouses, barbecue grills, ice chests, and even an excavator floating down the Colorado River.
ABC News' Jennifer Watts and Lissette Rodriguez contributed to this report.
