▲ The Grand Canyon swept away by floods
A sudden flash flood at the Grand Canyon, a major U.S. national park, has left about 15 people missing.
According to CBS News, the Associated Press, and other local media outlets on August 30 (local time), a sudden flood occurred the previous afternoon around Bright Angel Creek and Phantom Ranch within Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, destroying structures such as bridges and leaving about 15 campers and hikers missing.
Among the hikers at the scene, about 60 people were rescued via helicopters and other means.
According to authorities, heavy rain of 0.5 to 1 inch (12.7 to 25.4 mm) fell in about an hour at Bright Angel Creek, and the rainwater cascaded down the steep rocky terrain, triggering the flash flood.
David Gregory, who was hiking at the time, told CNN, "We noticed the creek water turning into muddy water and flowing increasingly violently," adding that he evacuated to a nearby high school by helicopter.
Another camper, Erica Viola, said she saw her lodging building get washed away as the creek water rose, and also evacuated by helicopter.
Due to the fast and strong currents, nearly all pedestrian bridges across Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, and even the geography of the Colorado River is reported to have changed.
There is a possibility of additional rainfall between tonight and the early hours of the 31st.
The national park authorities stated that they plan to carry out additional evacuation operations today, and announced the closure of the Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch, and parts of the North Kaibab Trail.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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