The disaster began at approximately 2:30 p.m. when heavy rainfall—measuring up to one inch in just 30 minutes—struck the North Rim. The water funneled down a 6,000-foot elevation drop, turning Bright Angel Creek into a torrent that swept away footbridges and metal structures into the Colorado River. Meteorologist Justin Johndrow noted that because the terrain is steep and rocky, the vast majority of the water ran off instantly rather than soaking into the ground.
Survivor Erica Viola described watching the creek rise rapidly from the Bright Angel Campground, witnessing debris, including what appeared to be a building, being carried downstream before her group was airlifted to safety. Park officials confirmed that while no injuries have been reported among those rescued, the search for the missing continues. The National Park Service has shuttered the campground, Phantom Ranch, and segments of the North Kaibab trail as they assess the damage, with rafting operations on the Colorado River currently suspended due to the risk of further debris flows and changing river conditions.
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