Just as the recent devastating floods in Nepal continue to weigh on the world’s conscience, nature has once again struck, this time in the United States. Sudden flash floods hit the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, a popular tourist destination in the US, leaving more than 20 tourists missing.
Officials said 15 of those unaccounted for in the sudden flood surge were hikers. The floodwaters struck with force on Saturday afternoon in the Bright Angel Creek area, which flows into the Colorado River. The flash floods completely inundated some of the park’s most critical areas, including Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch. National Park Service officials said the force of the floodwaters swept away massive boulders and several metal structures within the park, carrying them directly into the Colorado River.
🇺🇸: Flash floods sweep Grand Canyon, 62 evacuated and more than 20 still missing.
A flash flood hit Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch at Grand Canyon National Park on Aug. 29, 2026. By Sunday morning, 62 people had been evacuated with no injuries reported; officials say… pic.twitter.com/BT2YxN49uy
— World In Last 24hr (@world24x7hr) August 30, 2026
Authorities took immediate action to move tourists and local residents trapped in the flood-affected areas to safety. National Park Service teams, working jointly with Arizona’s state disaster management authorities, are currently carrying out a coordinated rescue operation to locate the more than 20 missing tourists. Visuals showing floodwaters and mud rushing through the canyon at tremendous speed have since gone viral on social media.
To avoid hindering rescue efforts and to ensure tourist safety, flood-affected routes have been temporarily closed. Officials have advised anyone in the canyon’s lower areas to move immediately to higher ground.