One hiker remained unaccounted for Monday night after a flash flood tore through the bottom of the Grand Canyon over the weekend, killing two men and forcing the evacuation of more than 80 people from the inner canyon.
The flood struck Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area at about 2:30 p.m. local time on Aug. 29, the National Park Service said. Half an inch to an inch of rain fell in roughly 30 minutes over steep, rocky ground, National Weather Service meteorologist Justin Johndrow in Flagstaff told The Associated Press, and almost all of it ran off at once.
The dead were identified as John Giusti, 46, a chiropractor, and Brent Rosenkranz, 42, who owned a martial arts studio. Both were from Granbury, Texas. A third man from the same group, Timothy Smith, a pilot from Wyoming, has not been found, NewsNation reported. The three had planned several days of hiking, camping and fishing together.
Incident commander Dave Black said at a news conference Monday that rangers had brought out 30 people over the previous two days and that permit records now pointed to a single person missing, CNN reported. Earlier park updates had put the possible figure above 20.
Crews reached stranded hikers after dark on Saturday using night vision equipment. Forty-five people were lifted out before nightfall and 37 more were evacuated Sunday, park officials said.
Water is now the park's larger problem. The flooding wrecked the Transcanyon Waterline, the 12.5-mile pipe that carries potable water up from inside the canyon and supplies fire suppression across the South Rim. The Park Service said the line is not operating and moved the South Rim to stage 4 water restrictions at noon Monday. All overnight lodging inside the park closed the same day, including Phantom Ranch. The concessionaire that runs the South Rim lodges has told guests it cannot take bookings through Sept. 6.
Deputy Superintendent Brian Drapeaux said Monday night that the park remains open for day use and that both rims are accessible, CBS News reported.
Nearly every footbridge over Bright Angel Creek was destroyed, leaving hikers no way across. The water rose below the North Rim near the burn scar left by the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire. Gauges installed after that fire gave officials their first warning, then went offline shortly after registering the surge, Fox Weather reported.
Rangers have warned that further monsoon storms could bring debris flows, rockfall and shifting trail and river conditions. Casualty figures reflect park updates issued the evening of Aug. 31.