15 hikers feared missing after 'terrifying' | Quik

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be played

Hikers airlifted to safety after flash floods hit Grand Canyon trail

One person has died and 15 remain missing or unaccounted for after flash flooding swept through parts of the Grand Canyon, the National Park Service (NPS) told US media.

The flood hit at around 14:30 local time (22:30 BST) on Saturday in Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch area, according to the NPS.

"The whole thing was terrifying," said Nikki Baggs, 41, who was among those to be airlifted out of the bottom of the Grand Canyon on Saturday alongside her two friends.

Baggs said she and her friends had just dropped off their belongings at a cabin in Phantom Ranch - a remote lodge at the bottom of the Grand Canyon - when they decided to venture out to enjoy the nice day. Before they knew it, a flood of water was sweeping through the area.

As soon as the rain hit, Baggs and her friends headed toward higher ground, where they sat at a picnic table, before rangers yelled to them to run again to a different ledge, where they waited with others for hours before they were evacuated at around 21:30 local time.

Baggs said she and her two friends had been looking forward to a steak dinner at Phantom Ranch - but were now just grateful to be alive thanks to a swift response from park rangers.

"It was a really uniquely coordinated effort," she said. "That's what made us feel safe about all of it in an unsafe situation."

Image source, Nikki BaggsImage caption, Nikki Baggs posed for this photo just before the rain hit

It reported that flooding had caused significant damage in some areas and that trails in the area have been closed.

Overnight guest lodgings in the South Rim will be stopped from Monday until further notice as the floods have "extensive damage" to the national park's water infrastructure.

Baggs said she and her friends watched from higher ground as bridges were swept away.

The NPS asked anyone who knew of hikers or backpackers who were in the inner canyon along the Bright Angel Creek corridor on Saturday to get in touch.

The NPS also warned that more thunderstorms and heavy rainfall were forecast for Sunday and Monday, which could lead to "additional flash flooding, debris flows, rockfall and changing trail and river conditions".

The Grand Canyon is one of the most popular national parks in the US, with about five million people visiting each year. The Bright Angel trail is its most popular hike.

US hikes national park fees for foreigners to put 'American families first'

'Heart-breaking': Locals and visitors devastated by loss of Grand Canyon Lodge

PreviousNext1:05'I didn't give him up for adoption - he was taken' 00:01:05, play video'I didn't give him up for adoption - he was taken'0:33Rescuers work through the night at Nepal power plant. 00:00:33, play videoRescuers work through the night at Nepal power plant1:30Nepal flood relief vehicles trapped as heavy rain turns roads to mud. 00:01:30, play videoNepal flood relief vehicles trapped as heavy rain turns roads to mud0:55Moment Trump phones during Nasa presser. 00:00:55, play videoMoment Trump phones during Nasa presser0:57Teenager dressed as superman fights fires in Indonesia. 00:00:57, play videoTeenager dressed as superman fights fires in Indonesia0:53When you interview Ed Sheeran with spinach in your teeth. 00:00:53, play videoWhen you interview Ed Sheeran with spinach in your teeth0:34Norway's new King pays tribute to parents. 00:00:34, play videoNorway's new King pays tribute to parents1:27Are older and younger generations in conflict? 00:01:27, play videoAre older and younger generations in conflict?0:28PM confirms PC Harper's killers will remain in prison. 00:00:28, play videoPM confirms PC Harper's killers will remain in prison0:55Amelia Dimoldenberg: 'We need to be opening doors for young people' 00:00:55, play videoAmelia Dimoldenberg: 'We need to be opening doors for young people'1:13Where does 'the world is your oyster' come from? 00:01:13, play videoWhere does 'the world is your oyster' come from?0:48'Digital nomads are lying to you' 00:00:48, play video'Digital nomads are lying to you'1:24Understanding disorganised attachment style. 00:01:24, play videoUnderstanding disorganised attachment style1:24This family have been carving 'Crazy Horse' for eight decades. 00:01:24, play videoThis family have been carving 'Crazy Horse' for eight decades0:29How much light are we currently losing in the UK? 00:00:29, play videoHow much light are we currently losing in the UK?1:18Our dog's death left 'a big empty hole in our lives' 00:01:18, play videoOur dog's death left 'a big empty hole in our lives'0:48Model's photos used to catfish women. 00:00:48, play videoModel's photos used to catfish women1:29The inventor who refused to take no for an answer. 00:01:29, play videoThe inventor who refused to take no for an answer1:01E-bike and e-scooter fires cause 18 deaths. 00:01:01, play videoE-bike and e-scooter fires cause 18 deathsTop storiesEarly release scheme could see dangerous criminals released, Conservatives warn

US and Iran trade strikes for first time in weeks

Live. Number of people missing after Nepal flood rises to 4,247, with more than 900 dead

The millennials swapping doom-scrolling for gardening

The mystery of why so many black Britons still can't swim

This actor was told he had Alzheimer's, now he's performing a one-man show

The druid, the weather presenter and the astronomer - when does autumn start?

Parents of seriously ill children should get paid leave, says commissioner

Lola Young surprises Reading Festival with final day set

'My parents won't lend me £10k but helped my brother': When families play financial favourites

Sons of officer who died in A66 crash lead out Man Utd as mascots

Low-key noughties sitcom starring Robert Webb and Paula Wilcox

Keith Richards recalls how he wrote the iconic 'Satisfaction'

An unlikely gang set out to catch a killer who shattered rural peace

The mystery of why so many black Britons still can't swim

Patel to be replaced by Tugendhat as shadow foreign secretary

This actor was told he had Alzheimer's, now he's performing a one-man show

US and Iran trade strikes for first time in weeks

'Killers blocked from early release' and 'Harry should fund security'

'My parents won't lend me £10k but helped my brother': When families play financial favourites

Russian strikes destroy 12 million books ahead of Ukraine's first week back at school

Parents of seriously ill children should get paid leave, says commissioner

The millennials swapping doom-scrolling for gardening

'Moonies' church leader jailed for two years over bribery offences