Amidst Grand Canyon's flash flooding, a hiker has gone missing.
The park authority announced they were involved in a search and rescue operation, looking for a woman believed to have been swept away by the floods close to the Colorado River merger, as mentioned in a report released on Friday.
The woman, recognized as Chenoa Nickerson, 33, from Gilbert, Arizona, wasn't wearing a life jacket when she got pushed into Havasu Creek, the report stated.
Quite a few hikers got trapped during the early afternoon flash flood on Thursday, as per the park authority. A rescue mission was dispatched to save the stranded hikers, both beneath and above Beaver Falls. However, Nickerson continued to be missing, according to the report.
The National Park Service described Nickerson as standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 190 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is requested to contact the park service’s Investigative Services tip line.
Nickerson's sister, Tamara Morales, expressed hope to CNN affiliate KNXV that she would be found safe. Nickerson's husband was successfully rescued, Morales informed KNXV.
"We adore her immensely and won't give up on her," Morales said regarding her sister. "We want all efforts directed towards the search and finding her safely."
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs ordered the Arizona National Guard to aid in the rescue operations on the Havasupai Indian Reservation, which is enclosed by Grand Canyon National Park, as reported by KNXV. The flooding, caused by monsoon storms, triggered multiple emergency evacuations.
Despite the ongoing rescue efforts, the whereabouts of Nickerson remain unknown among the US authorities involved in the operation. Morales and the family continue to urge for increased search efforts for Nickerson's safe return.
