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Beyond the 806

Grand Canyon flash flood leaves 1 dead and several missing or unaccounted for, park service says - AP News

Grand Canyon flash flood leaves 1 dead and several missing or unaccounted for, park service says - AP News

A flash flood tore through the Grand Canyon on Sunday, killing one person and leaving about 15 others missing or unaccounted for, according to the National Park Service. The body of a 46-year-old man was recovered Sunday evening near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River.

The body of a 46-year-old man was recovered Sunday evening near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River. Park service officials did not release additional details about the victim, and an Arizona coroner's office was involved in the response. The flood was severe enough to push large boulders into the Colorado River and force evacuations across the park.

The damage goes beyond the human toll. The flood knocked out the only water pipeline serving tourists and residents inside the Grand Canyon, cutting off a resource with no backup. That single point of failure leaves everyone still inside the park without a functioning water supply until repairs can be made.

For folks in Lubbock who have the Grand Canyon on their travel list, this is a real reason to check conditions before heading out. The park draws millions of visitors each year, and summer monsoon season in Arizona can turn dry canyon corridors into deadly chutes with almost no warning time.

Search and rescue operations were still underway Sunday, with roughly 15 people unaccounted for in terrain that makes ground searches exceptionally difficult.

Common questions

How many people are missing after the Grand Canyon flash flood?

About 15 people are missing or unaccounted for after a flash flood tore through the Grand Canyon on Sunday. One person, a 46-year-old man, was found dead near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River. An Arizona coroner's office is involved in the response.

What damage did the Grand Canyon flash flood cause?

The flood was powerful enough to push large boulders into the Colorado River and force evacuations across the park. It also knocked out the only water pipeline serving tourists and residents inside the Grand Canyon, leaving everyone still inside without a functioning water supply and no backup system in place.

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