Shafaqna English– According to an official statement released by the National Park Service, a sudden and violent flash flood event that struck the Grand Canyon region in Arizona over the past weekend has resulted in the confirmed deaths of at least two individuals.
Furthermore, the authorities have reported that approximately 20 or more people remain unaccounted for, raising grave concerns about their safety and survival. The severity of the flooding was such that it necessitated an emergency evacuation operation, during which dozens of hikers who were trapped in the canyon had to be airlifted to safety using helicopters due to the inaccessibility of ground routes.
The catastrophic flooding was triggered by exceptionally heavy rainfall that occurred on Saturday, which unleashed a devastating torrent of mud, massive boulders, uprooted trees, and other debris cascading down through Bright Angel Creek.
This creek serves as a major tributary canyon that traverses a significant distance from the park’s remote North Rim all the way down to the Colorado River. The sheer force of the water and debris proved immensely destructive, as it completely washed away several established hiking trails, swept away pedestrian footbridges that were critical for crossing the creek, and caused extensive damage to other vital infrastructure along the canyon corridor.
Source: Reuters