Search operations resumed on Tuesday in the flood-stricken reaches of Grand Canyon National Park as teams focused on locating the last confirmed missing hiker and accounting for anyone else who may have been caught in the torrent.
The National Park Service on Tuesday identified the two men whose bodies were recovered after being swept to their deaths along the canyon floor as John Giusti, 46, and Brent Rosenkranz, 42, both from Granbury, Texas. A third person connected to their hiking party, identified in news media accounts as Timothy Allen Smith, 53, remained listed as missing by the Park Service.
Officials said on Monday they were maintaining hope that Smith might still be found alive. In the immediate aftermath of the flash flood, authorities initially reported as many as 30 people unaccounted for; that figure was later reduced to 15 as more information became available. By Tuesday, park officials said Smith was the only individual conclusively still listed as missing.
Justin Cully, the Grand Canyon’s chief park ranger, told reporters on Monday that an unspecified number of additional hikers may have been in the flood zone without park officials knowing, because daytime trail use does not require permits. The Park Service on Tuesday reiterated that possibility and said search-and-rescue efforts were ongoing.
"Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with teams continuing efforts to locate the missing hiker and account for anyone else who may have been in the affected area at the time of the flood," the agency said.
Over the weekend, a total of 82 survivors were evacuated from the affected area, most by helicopter, according to Park Service incident commander Dave Black. The immediate response prioritized locating survivors and securing the damaged area.
The flood followed heavy rains that sent a rush of mud, boulders and debris down Bright Angel Creek, a major side canyon that flows from the park’s North Rim to the Colorado River. The surge swept away trails, foot bridges and other infrastructure, leaving visible damage across the canyon floor and along trail corridors.
Park officials also reported extensive damage to the pipeline system that supplies fresh water to the park. That damage prompted an indefinite closure of all overnight lodging facilities within the park, although both the South and North rims were kept open for daytime visitors.
As search teams continued to operate in the affected area, park officials emphasized the fluid nature of the accounting effort and the potential for additional unknown victims given the lack of permit requirements for daytime hikers. The Park Service did not provide a revised estimate of any other missing persons on Tuesday beyond the status of the one confirmed missing hiker.
Investigations and recovery operations remained active, with crews balancing the urgent need to locate and assist survivors against the hazards posed by the damaged terrain and infrastructure.