Over 20 missing after flash flood tears through Grand Canyon's Bright Angel Creek

More than 20 people remained unaccounted for on Sunday after torrents of water tore through Bright Angel Creek at the Grand Canyon, forcing emergency evacuations and halting river operations.

The flash flood struck Saturday afternoon along the creek, which feeds into the Colorado River, sweeping large boulders, metal structures and debris into the main waterway. Dozens of people were evacuated from the area as floodwaters reshaped the terrain.

Footbridges destroyed, landscape transformed

The flooding wiped out footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek and significantly widened the creek bed, creating what appeared to be a new river rapid, according to the US National Park Service. The force of the water fundamentally altered the landscape along the creek corridor.

Park officials asked anyone with information about hikers or campers in the affected area to come forward as they worked to account for the missing. The Arizona Department of Public Safety joined evacuation efforts that continued into Sunday.

Key sites closed as damage assessed

The Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch and portions of the North Kaibab trail remained closed Sunday while officials surveyed the damage. The park service also halted all rafting trips on the Colorado River.

"This is a reminder of what a dynamic and active landscape Grand Canyon is," said Jack Schmidt, director of the Centre for Colorado River Studies at Utah State University.

The flooding underscores the volatile nature of canyon waterways, where sudden storms can channel massive volumes of water through narrow drainages with little warning.

Source: South China Morning Post