At least one person was killed and around 15 others are missing after a flash flood at the Grand Canyon, one of the most popular tourist sites in the United States, the National Park Service said in a statement on Sunday.
The floods hit the Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom
Ranch area on Saturday, forcing dozens of people to evacuate and damaging the sole water pipeline serving the park.
The body of a 46-year-old man was recovered on Sunday evening near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River in northern Arizona, the park service said.
Video footage taken by hikers showed a torrent of muddy water rushing by trails and under footbridges as well as logs and other debris floating down swollen rivers, accompanied by a rumbling roar.
The park service said it was working with Arizona authorities to evacuate people and account for missing individuals.
As of Sunday morning, 62 people had been evacuated, with others scheduled for later, it said.
It said around 15 people were thought to be missing, revising an earlier figure of more than 20.
The flooding damaged the Transcanyon Waterline, a key water pipeline into Grand Canyon National Park, the park service said, announcing water restrictions in its most visited area and a ban on wood and charcoal fires.
The 20-kilometre pipeline runs from the Roaring Springs source on the North Rim to the South Rim, providing drinking water and fire suppression, according to the park’s website.
At least 20 people unaccounted for after flash flooding at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona – officials pic.twitter.com/he0VNiRsLd
The flooding also resulted in “significant impacts to infrastructure”, destroying footbridges and blocking hikers from crossing Bright Angel Creek, the park service said.
Overnight accommodations were to be closed from Monday, it added.
“These measures are crucial for ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources,” the park service said.
The flash flood, which began about 2.30 pm on Saturday local time, was caused by rain on the Kaibab Plateau, it said.
Hikers and campers scrambled for cover as a storm triggered heavy rain and flash flooding in the Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch regions of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. The storm caused significant damage to nearby footbridges and trails, according to the National… pic.twitter.com/NRNmfdmmC1
