At least two people have died and around 15 others are potentially missing after severe flash flooding struck the Grand Canyon in Arizona over the weekend, with more heavy rain forecast for Monday.
Axar.az reports, citing CNN, that the National Park Service said two bodies had been recovered, including that of a 46-year-old man found near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River.
The identity of the second victim has not been released.
The flooding began Saturday afternoon after several waves of heavy rain hit Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area. The National Weather Service said the final wave dropped up to 1 inch of rain in about 30 minutes.
At least 62 people had been evacuated by Sunday, while search teams using helicopters continued looking for missing hikers. Nearly all footbridges across Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, cutting off access for hikers.
The National Weather Service has issued a Level 3-of-4 flood risk for Monday, warning that additional heavy rain could trigger more flash flooding, debris flows and rockfalls.
The flooding also damaged or destroyed an estimated 40% of the Transcanyon Waterline, prompting restrictions on overnight stays, campground water access and fires on the South Rim.