2 dead, about 15 missing after Grand Canyon hit by flash floods

Two deaths have been confirmed and some 15 people were believed to be missing Monday morning in Grand Canyon National Park after parts of the canyon were hit by major flash floods over the weekend. The raging waters swept boulders, infrastructure and other debris into the Colorado River after a storm dropped a huge amount of precipitation in a very short period of time, officials said.

The body of a 46-year-old man was recovered Sunday evening near Crystal Rapids on the Colorado River, the National Park Service said, without providing any additional information. On Monday, the park service said a second body had been recovered.

The NPS called for anyone who knew of hikers or backpackers who were in Bright Angel Canyon or the Phantom Ranch area on Saturday afternoon, when the flash floods hit, to provide information to park authorities.

"Grand Canyon National Park staff, in coordination with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, are continuing evacuation and response efforts and working to account for individuals who may have been in the affected area," NPS said in a statement.

Authorities were also searching for anyone who may have been on the North Kaibab Trail, between the trailhead and Phantom Ranch, staying at Bright Angel Campground, or traveling or staying in the area known as "the Box," north of Phantom Ranch.

Park officials told CBS News overnight that at least 15 people were still missing, though a spokesperson stressed earlier that the figure was subject to change as more information became available.

At least 62 people were evacuated from the hard-hit areas in the sprawling national park after the flooding caused significant damage, officials said.

"Nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, eliminating pedestrian access across the creek," NPS said in an earlier statement.

Officials said Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch Canteen, the North Kaibab Trail, the Black and Silver bridges and traffic to the Colorado River in the area would be closed until further notice.

About half an inch to an inch of rain fell within just half an hour in the rocky area, where there's a steep drop in elevation, said National Weather Service meteorologist Justin Johndrow in Flagstaff.

The National Park Service said the flooding caused "extensive damage to infrastructure in the inner canyon, including the Transcanyon Waterline, which supplies water from the canyon for use in the park."

"The waterline is currently not operational, leaving the park with limited water reserves and requiring significant water conservation measures to ensure available supplies can be maintained," NPS said. On Monday it reported that about 40% of the waterlne has been destroyed.

Phantom Ranch is a historic and extremely popular lodge close to the bottom of the Grand Canyon by Bright Angel Creek.

Park officials asked people to stay away from the closed areas and said the operator of the lodge, which is usually fully booked months in advance, will inform guests about the state of their reservations.