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Three Dead After Boat Hits Unknown Object on Flooded Squamish River in British Columbia
By Maya Wilson
Photo: James Abbott / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Three people are dead after a boat carrying approximately eight people struck an unknown object and overturned on the flooded Squamish River near Squamish, British Columbia, on Thursday, according to CBC News and the RCMP.
The impact stopped the boat and threw passengers into the water. Squamish RCMP responded at 1:52 p.m. Pacific time on November 12. Police confirmed the third fatality on Friday, November 13, after the body of a person initially reported missing was found.
The identities of the three people who died have not been confirmed.
Insp. Robert Dykstra of Sea-to-Sky RCMP told CBC News that about eight people were aboard. He said he did not have specific details about the type of boat but understood it had struck something, causing it to stop and throwing people into the water.
A number of passengers were rescued and are safe, although police have not released an exact count of those rescued or an injury total.
Dykstra said some people had managed to get off the boat and were rescued on the opposite side of the river, where emergency crews did not have direct road access.
“A number of people did get off the boat and they were rescued. They’re on the other side [of the Squamish River] where we don’t have direct access to by road right now, but they’re safe,” he told CBC News.
Search and recovery efforts
The search and recovery operation involved RCMP Air Services, the Lower Mainland District Integrated Emergency Response Team, the Lower Mainland District Underwater Recovery Team and West Coast Marine Services. Efforts were continuing, CBC News reported.
Police said heavy rainfall had swollen the river amid stormy conditions, making the operation difficult and dangerous for responders.
Cpl. Ashley MacKay told CBC News that weather and river conditions had significantly affected the response.
“The weather and river conditions have played a significant role in the response efforts,” MacKay said.
Dykstra described the flooding as substantial and said rainfall over the preceding 48 hours had been significant.
“It’s tragic. It’s dangerous water. The flooding was quite substantial. The rainfall over the last 48 hours has been significant,” he said.
Flooding restricts access
Access to the area has also been hampered by flooding and road damage. Squamish Valley Road is closed at the Pilchuck Bailey Bridge because of flooding, while the road has been washed out about two to three kilometres north of the Cheekye area.
The closure has complicated access to the riverbank and to people rescued on the opposite side, according to Dykstra’s account to CBC News.
Police are warning the public to stay off the water because of dangerous flow rates and debris in the river.
Cpl. Brett Urano offered condolences to those affected and said investigators were working to establish what happened.
“We send the condolences out to those who are affected. We’re working hard to figure out exactly what happened in this investigation,” Urano told CBC News.
Investigation continues
Police are investigating the circumstances of the crash, including who owns the boat and why it was on the river in Thursday’s conditions.
The cause of the incident beyond the boat striking an unknown object has not been determined. Police have not identified the object, confirmed the boat’s ownership or explained why it was on the flooded river.
The identities of those killed, the exact number of people rescued and the number of people injured also remain unconfirmed, according to CBC News reporting on the RCMP response.
Maya Wilson
World Desk, The Library Media
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