Two dead, one missing after Grand Canyon flash flood

GRAND CANYON (AFP) — Two people died and one remained missing Monday after a flash flood swept through the Grand Canyon, while authorities rescued 82 others.

Monsoon rains Saturday sent water, rocks and debris through Bright Angel Canyon and around Phantom Ranch, washing out campgrounds.

National Park Service officials said they had located nearly everyone known to be in the area, reducing the number of missing people to one.

“There is one person unaccounted for that we know of right now,” said Dave Black of the National Park Service.

Search efforts were slowed by continued rain. Officials said better weather Tuesday could help the search.

The flooding also damaged or destroyed 40 percent of the Transcanyon Waterline, prompting water restrictions in the park’s busiest area. Several footbridges were also destroyed.