A powerful flash flood swept through Arizona's Grand Canyon on August 29, sending muddy water, huge boulders and debris through Bright Angel Canyon and the Colorado River. About 15 people may still be missing or unaccounted for, while authorities evacuated 62 hikers and campers from the affected areas, according to the National Park Service and reports cited by the Times of India.
The Grand Canyon flood comes days after a catastrophic flood disaster struck the Nepal-China border, where thousands of people remain missing. The two disasters have highlighted the sudden danger that flash floods can create in mountainous regions, although the Arizona flood came from intense rainfall rather than the glacier-related disaster reported in the Himalayas.
Grand Canyon flood sweeps through Bright Angel Canyon
The flood struck the Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch area at around 2.30 pm on August 29. Heavy rain over the Kaibab Plateau sent water rushing down the steep terrain and into Bright Angel Creek.
The water quickly gathered mud, rocks and other debris as it moved through the canyon. The torrent eventually carried debris into the Colorado River and dramatically changed parts of the creek.
The National Park Service initially said more than 20 people could be missing or unaccounted for. Officials later revised the working figure to about 15 people as they continued efforts to identify and locate visitors who had been in the area.
