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Flash floods hit Grand Canyon: 2 dead, 15 missing

By
FOX 10 Phoenix
Grand Canyon
Published August 31, 2026 4:14 PM MST
Published August 31, 2026 4:14 PM MST
(Related) Arizona man shares Grand Canyon hiking experience
(Related) Arizona man shares Grand Canyon hiking experience

(Related) Arizona man shares Grand Canyon hiking experience

Monsoon storms on Aug. 29 led to flash flooding in the Grand Canyon area, and officials say at least two people are dead. We spoke with the Editor In Chief for Arizona Highways magazine, who shared his hiking experience in the area.

The Brief

    • State officials are searching for approximately 15 people feared missing following deadly flash flooding at the Grand Canyon.
    • At least two people have been confirmed dead, including a Texas chiropractor, while more than 60 others were evacuated to safety.
    • All hotels in the park have closed after the flooding damaged roughly 40% of the Transcanyon Waterline, triggering Stage 4 water restrictions.

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. - At least two people were killed in flash flooding in the Grand Canyon, with more than 60 individuals airlifted to safety over the weekend. More than a dozen others remain missing.

As search crews continue looking for the missing, the park has closed all hotels after the flooding destroyed the canyon's only water pipeline.

What we know:

State officials are still trying to find about 15 people they fear are missing or unaccounted for after the flash flooding.

Two people have been found dead. Family members identified one hiker killed as Dr. John Giusti, a Texas chiropractor. He was visiting the Grand Canyon with two of his friends, who are still missing, according to the three families.

Over 60 people were airlifted to safety as search efforts continue for roughly 15 missing individuals at the Grand Canyon.

‘Praying for those families’

A plumber who was on the job in the inner canyon on Saturday, Aug. 29, was with a group of 16 workers and about 50 hikers when the flash flooding came through around 2:30 p.m. He says they were able to make sure everyone in that group was accounted for, and they were airlifted out. However, he is still praying for those who did not make it and who are still out there.

"Just praying for those families. Praying for those people. Hope that they can find them. Very sad to hear about the two people that they found already. But, I hope they can find the other people," Joey Martin said.

(Related) Grand Canyon flood: Search continues for missing victims
(Related) Grand Canyon flood: Search continues for missing victims

(Related) Grand Canyon flood: Search continues for missing victims

At least 62 people were evacuated from the Grand Canyon after deadly severe flooding in the Grand Canyon area, and crews are still searching for missing hikers. FOX 10's Megan Spector reports.

What you can do:

The National Park Service is still asking for the public’s help. If anyone knows of hikers or backpackers who were in the inner canyon along the Bright Angel Creek corridor on Saturday, reach out to the National Park Service at 888-653-0009 or nps_isb@nps.gov.

"If you know of hikers/backpackers who were in the Bright Angel Creek corridor Aug. 29—or had a campground reservation there—please contact NPS Investigative Services Branch," NPS said. "This includes those who may have been on the North Kaibab Trail between the trailhead and Phantom Ranch, at Bright Angel Campground, or in "the Box" north of Phantom Ranch."

What's next:

Certain areas, trails, and campsites remain closed. The Department of the Interior believes about 40% of the Transcanyon Waterline was damaged or destroyed, which is the pipeline in the park. Stage 4 water restrictions are in place as well.

Remnants of stone bridge pylons remain along Bright Angel Creek following a flash flood that destroyed the footbridge on August 29. The flooding caused significant damage to infrastructure throughout the canyon. Credit: NPS Photo/J. Thompson

The Source

  • Information in this report was gathered from the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service.

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