Flash floods in the United States, 20 missing

More than 20 people are missing after flash floods hit the Grand Canyon in the US state of Arizona on Saturday. Park rangers are searching for them. 

The National Park Service said on Sunday (August 30) that more than 20 people are missing or unaccounted for. The agency is appealing to the public for information about them, Anadolu reported.

The flash floods hit the remote interior of the Grand Canyon on Saturday afternoon, hitting Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch, located along the Colorado River. The area is a major tourist attraction, but this part of the park is extremely inaccessible.

The park service said anyone who was in the area on Saturday, especially hikers with reservations at campgrounds or those traveling through the Bright Angel Creek corridor, is asked to contact the appropriate agency. Grand Canyon National Park officials in the southeastern United States are currently coordinating rescue and evacuation efforts and searching for potential victims, in coordination with the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

As of Sunday morning, 62 people had been safely evacuated from Phantom Ranch and the Lower North Kaibab Trail. Authorities said no injuries were reported at this time.

The high water levels caused extensive and severe damage to the park's trail infrastructure. Nearly all of the footbridges over Bright Angel Creek, a major tributary of the Colorado River, were destroyed, effectively cutting off access for hikers. The park service has closed Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, and the entire North Kaibab Trail until further notice.

The Black Bridge and Silver Bridge over the Colorado River have also been closed indefinitely. All boating and vehicular traffic on the Colorado River has also been suspended. The decision was made after floodwaters carried metal structures and debris into the river. Park officials warned that more thunderstorms and heavy rains are expected through Monday, which could trigger new debris flows and rock slides.

Earlier, more than 797 people have died so far due to flash floods and landslides in the mountainous areas of Nepal since the middle of last week. In addition, more than 3,000 people are still missing.