Three Hikers Die in One Week at Grand Canyon: What Is Happening?

The Grand Canyon, one of the most iconic national parks in the United States.

Three hikers have died there within the past week.

The National Park Service announced that two separate incidents at the Grand Canyon have resulted in a total of three deaths.

On June 12, a 72-year-old man collapsed and died on the South Kaibab Trail. Following this, on June 16, the bodies of a man and a woman in their 60s were discovered on the North Kaibab Trail.

Heatstroke is suspected to be the cause in all cases.

The National Park Service stated that these accidents have increased as temperatures inside the canyon have risen to dangerous levels.

They explained that during the hottest hours of the day, conditions can quickly overwhelm hikers.

A meteorologist from the National Weather Service noted that temperatures at the bottom of the canyon reached as high as 44°C (111°F) last week.

The meteorologist explained that while descending into the canyon may feel manageable, the combination of steep uphill climbs and extreme heat when trying to exit can trigger heatstroke symptoms.

With a heatwave expected to continue next week, the National Park Service has advised hikers to avoid using the trails between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Reported by Jeong Yu-mi | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.