Flash floods that ripped through Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area left one person dead and 15 people unaccounted for, while also prompting the air evacuation of about 50 people from around Phantom Ranch as helicopters searched the Grand Canyon.
More than 60 others had already been airlifted out of the inner canyon as rescue crews responded to debris and a broken water pipeline, according to The Independent.
Here's what to know
Park officials said the emergency began at about 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, when floodwaters surged through Bright Angel Canyon and into the Phantom Ranch area, swamping one of the park's busiest hiking corridors.
The body of a 46-year-old man was later found near Crystal Rapids on the Colorado River.
Search crews from the National Park Service and the Arizona Department of Public Safety used two helicopters to scan the North Kaibab Trail and the stretch of the Colorado River between the mouth of Bright Angel Creek and Deer Creek Narrows.
The NPS initially reported 20 or more people missing or unaccounted for before later revising that number to 15.
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Grand Canyon National Park spokesperson Joelle Baird told The New York Times that the missing were "individuals either on a backcountry itinerary in the inner canyon or believed to be day hiking along the North Kaibab/Phantom Ranch area," per The Independent.
Parth Desai, a physician hiking in Bright Angel Canyon with colleagues and a park ranger, described how quickly conditions changed: "We saw the creek flood, waterfalls coming up out of nowhere, boulders, mud, landslides happening everywhere."
More background
The flooding also caused major infrastructure damage in one of the country's busiest national parks.
The NPS said the surge knocked out the Transcanyon Waterline, the only pipeline serving both tourists and residents in the park, leaving the area with limited water reserves.
Park officials halted overnight hotel stays, ordered dry camping across the park, and asked year-round residents to conserve water.
Because of debris, officials also closed the Colorado River, the North Kaibab Trail, Phantom Ranch, and the Silver and Black Bridges until further notice.
The danger is especially severe in the Grand Canyon during monsoon season, when clear skies can quickly give way to intense downpours.
In June, three hikers died from extreme heat in the canyon.
What's being done?
Air evacuations from the Phantom Ranch area were still ongoing, the NPS said, and additional evacuations were being carried out from Cottonwood Campground, according to The Independent.
Officials asked anyone with information about hikers or campers who are not yet accounted for to contact the park.
The American Red Cross set up a shelter at the high school in Grand Canyon Village, while Arizona public safety crews continued to assist with search and evacuation operations.
A flood watch was issued through the end of August 31, with the park warning that "Flash flooding will be possible in creeks, normally dry washes, swimming holes, and over recently burned areas."
The NPS also stressed the importance of conserving water.
With roughly 6 million annual visitors and around 1,600 residents relying on the system, the broken pipeline could have effects far beyond the immediate rescue effort.
Where can I learn more?
Recent disasters offer a clearer picture of how quickly flooding and other extreme weather can make evacuations and rescues more dangerous. They also show what can follow in the days and weeks after, from urgent safety risks to the mental health strain that can linger once the search is over.
• In Colorado, officials warned that flash flooding fears could worsen conditions around the Aspen Acres Fire.
• In Yakutia, emergency crews mounted over 100 rescues after floodwaters submerged villages and stranded animals.
• After major weather disasters, psychiatrists say psychological injuries can linger long after evacuations and searches end.
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