Rescuers save about 80 people in Grand Canyon floods that killed two and left one missing

The bodies of two people have been recovered after a major flash flood swept through the Grand Canyon, while one person remains missing and about 80 others were rescued over the weekend, AP reported.

The flash flood occurred in the Bright Angel Creek area Saturday and sent waves surging through the popular national park. Search and rescue teams looked for stranded citizens using night-vision goggles and other tools.

Incident Commander Dave Black said the rescuers had 45 people to safety by Saturday evening but had another 37 evacuated Sunday.

“As of right now, they don’t have reason to believe, based on all the tips we’ve been able to read through, that anyone else other than the one missing person is still out there”, Black said Monday evening at a press conference.

The surge also inflicted serious damage to the park’s only pipeline for its drinking water source. The damage was estimated to be 40 percent of the pipeline, though the assessment was still being conducted.

Tourists were barred from staying at lodges and hotels inside the park, while emergency water restrictions were imposed on year-round residents.

The Grand Canyon attracts millions of visitors annually, and officials warned that further heavy rain could trigger additional flooding.