Flash flood don hit Grand Canyon National Park for Saturday afternoon, as water from Bright Angel Creek rush through Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch area. Di flood start around 2:30pm for August 29, and e don affect plenty hikers for di popular trail.
According to National Park Service, 62 people don already evacuate from Phantom Ranch and di lower part of North Kaibab Trail as of Sunday morning. Dem still dey carry more people comot from Cottonwood Campground and Phantom Ranch, working together with Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Dem carry di evacuees go Maswik Lodge Cafeteria for South Rim, where American Red Cross dey coordinate assistance. No injury don report so far, but BBC say about 15 people still dey unaccounted for.
One hiker, Nikki Baggs, wey be 41 years, tell BBC say ‘whole thing na so terrible’ and e share video wey show floodwater dey rise as park rangers dey urge am to comot for park. Di water don destroy nearly all di footbridges wey cross Bright Angel Creek, so hikers no fit cross.
Because of di flood, NPS don close Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, di Phantom Ranch Canteen and cabins, and di entire North Kaibab Trail from North Kaibab Trailhead to Phantom Ranch. Di Black Bridge and Silver Bridge wey cross Colorado River also close until further notice.
Colorado River don close for river traffic because metal structure and debris dey enter di river. River parties wey already dey inside canyon dey receive direction through river operations rangers and Grand Canyon River Alert system.
NPS dey still assess di damage for trail, bridge, utility and other infrastructure. Dem no get any estimated date for di place to open again, and more inner canyon closure fit come.
Additional thunderstorms and heavy rainfall fit still come today and Monday, wey fit cause more flash flooding, debris flow, and rockfall. Hikers wey get plan to visit Grand Canyon need to check di latest information before dem enter.
