Around 15 hikers were reported missing after flash flooding swept through Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area of Grand Canyon National Park on Saturday afternoon.

The National Park Service said it had initially identified more than 20 people as unaccounted for but later revised the estimate to approximately 15. Sixty‑two individuals have been airlifted from the canyon, with more expected to follow, and no injuries have been reported.

The flooding began at about 14:30 local time (22:30 BST) on Saturday, when heavy rain caused a rapid rise in water levels in the inner canyon. Hikers, including Nikki Baggs and two companions, moved to higher ground and later waited on a ledge after rangers instructed them to relocate.

Baggs said the rain arrived suddenly and she and her friends moved to higher ground, where they waited on a ledge after rangers instructed them to relocate.

The NPS reported damage to some trails and footbridges, which have been closed, and warned that additional thunderstorms and heavy rain are forecast for Sunday and Monday, potentially leading to further flash flooding, debris flows, rockfall and altered trail and river conditions.

The search for the remaining missing hikers continues as authorities monitor the weather outlook.