Catastrophic Grand Canyon Flash Flood Forces Mass Helicopter Rescue
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A sudden flash flood struck Bright Angel Canyon at Grand Canyon National Park on Saturday afternoon, prompting the emergency helicopter evacuation of approximately fifty visitors from the Phantom Ranch area. The floodwaters surged through the narrow corridor around 2:30 p.m. local time, driven by heavy monsoon rainfall in the region. No injuries were reported during the rescue operation. Officials noted that the severity of the flood was significantly amplified by hydrophobic burn scars remaining from last summer's Dragon Bravo Fire, which scorched more than 145,000 acres on the North Rim and prevented normal soil absorption. In response to the hazard, the National Park Service enacted an indefinite closure of Phantom Ranch and the entire North Kaibab Trail, disrupting rim-to-rim hiking routes and advance visitor reservations. Authorities have urged the public to avoid the closed zones while emergency assessments continue.