Two dead in Grand Canyon after flash flood, park service says

August 31, 2026 1:45 PM EDT

People wait near a bridge as a helicopter flies nearby amid flash flooding in the Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, U.S., August 29, 2026, in this still image taken from a video obtained by Reuters. Wieke De Boer/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS I

By Julia Harte

Aug ‌31 (Reuters) - One body ​has ​been recovered following flash flooding in Grand Canyon National Park over the weekend and recovery ‌operations were underway for a second body on ⁠Monday, the National Park Service told Reuters.

Heavy rainfall brought surging waters ‌through the canyon on ‌Saturday, destroying trails and footbridges, damaging infrastructure that carries water for use throughout the park, and forcing 62 ​hikers to be evacuated by helicopter by Sunday morning, according to the NPS.

Park officials reported on Sunday ⁠that the body of a 46-year-old man had been found. In a ​post on X, the NPS said "more than 20 individuals" might be missing or unaccounted for and ​sought information from the public about ‌any hikers who might have been in the path of the raging waters.

In response ⁠to questions from Reuters on Monday, the NPS confirmed the existence of the second body but did not offer more ⁠details about the victim or provide an updated count of the ​missing.

With additional thunderstorms expected early this week and stringent water-use restrictions in place, the South Rim of the park remained open ‌during the day on Monday but overnight accommodations and other concessions were closed.

Several hiking and ‌lodging areas affected by the floods remained fully shuttered ⁠on Monday. The NPS ‌asked that visitors ​remain away from the closed areas while search-and-recovery operations continue.

(Reporting by Julia Harte; Editing by Aurora ‌Ellis)



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