John Giusti and Brent Rosenkranz confirmed dead after flash floods strike Grand Canyon National Park
A deadly flash flood struck Grand Canyon National Park on Saturday, leaving John Giusti and Brent Rosenkranz dead. The flooding occurred along Bright Angel Creek and Phantom Ranch, where the two men were exploring with a third friend, Timothy Smith, who remains missing. Search and rescue teams evacuated dozens of visitors, with 82 people reported rescued from the canyon floor. Rangers used the park's permit system and vehicle license plates to track missing hikers, eventually narrowing the number of unaccounted-for individuals to one. Incident commander Dave Black stated that there is currently no reason to believe anyone other than Timothy Smith is missing. The flood was likely influenced by a combination of climate factors, including a severe drought and the aftermath of the Dragon Bravo wildfire. Scientists noted that the storm may have been supercharged by the El Niño phenomenon, which increased water vapor in the atmosphere. The heavy rain also damaged a main water pipeline, leading to stage four water restrictions for tourists. The park remains open to the public, though several trails and the Phantom Ranch area remain closed indefinitely while repairs are assessed.
Sources
-
2 Grand Canyon flooding victims photographed on hiking trip in days before deaths
Fox News
-
Grand Canyon flooding leaves 2 dead, 1 missing
CNN
-
How intense rains in the Grand Canyon turned into a deadly disaster
The Guardian