Grand Canyon Flood: Missing Count Drops From 15 to 1

Grand Canyon National Park officials said Monday night that all but one of the roughly 15 people initially reported missing after last weekend's flash flooding have now been accounted for, according to Department of the Interior spokesperson Elizabeth Peace.

"At least one person is known to still be missing," incident commander Dave Black said at a news conference, adding that crews cross-checked backcountry permits, license plates and information from family members to narrow down the number.

Two deaths have been confirmed in the disaster. One victim, identified by officials as 46-year-old chiropractor Dr. John Giusti of Granbury, Texas, was recovered near Crystal Rapids on the Colorado River on Sunday night. A second body was recovered Monday; officials have not yet released that person's identity.

The flash flooding struck Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area on Aug. 29, prompting the evacuation of 82 people from the inner canyon. The National Park Service said the flood destroyed nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek and damaged roughly 40% of the park's Transcanyon Waterline, which supplies water to the South Rim.

Grand Canyon National Park has closed Phantom Ranch, the Bright Angel Campground and the entire North Kaibab Trail until further notice, and has imposed Stage 4 water restrictions on the South Rim. South Rim lodges are not accepting overnight guests through Sept. 6 as recovery work continues.