On August 29, flash flooding in Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area of the Grand Canyon prompted air-lift rescues of more than 60 people. About 20 more people were temporarily missing or unaccounted for. Thanks to first responders’ efforts over the weekend, that number has dwindled to just one missing person. Sadly, two people died.
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Grand Canyon National Park’s update from yesterday read:
“Search and recovery efforts continue following the flooding in Grand Canyon National Park. One body has been recovered and recovery operations for a second body are currently underway.”
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The deceased hikers’ families have spoken to local news, identifying them to the public. AZ Family News reports that Dr. John Giusti, 46, and Brent Rosenkranz, 42, both of Granbury, Texas, died in the floods. Timothy Allen Smith, 53, was with Giusti and Rosenkranz, and he remains missing.
The flooding caused infrastructure damage to the Transcanyon Waterline, which is affecting operations within the canyon. Check the National Park Service’s website before visiting.
See the latest updates and alerts about the devastating flooding in the Grand Canyon below.
This situation is still developing, and details may change.
Header stock image by Suphanat Wongsanuphat/Getty Images
