A fatal flash flood hit the Bright Angel Creek area of the Grand Canyon over the weekend after claiming two lives, rescuing almost 80 people and leaving one person unaccounted for. The torrential rush of water and debris was caused by an unusual combination of drought, wildfire scars, and monsoon rainstorms that turned the canyon region into a raging wall of water.
Pre-disaster warnings : The Department of Interior post-fire assessment teams had already noted that runoff risks in the affected creek areas were eight times higher than usual due to unstable soil and increased rockfalls. Survivor reports : The survivors describe how the creek got completely covered in black color due to the heavy debris and ash falling from the burn areas. Rescue operations : The emergency services immediately acted upon the occurrence to airlift the tourists from the danger zones in response to fluctuating river levels.
