RCMP investigates fatal boating incident in Squamish Valley amid flooding
Police are probing a boating accident that resulted in deaths in the Squamish Valley, while heavy rain continues to cause flooding and road closures in the region.
Police are investigating a fatal boating incident that occurred Thursday in the Squamish Valley. RCMP Inspector Robert Dykstra said the event involved several individuals, but did not specify the number of people involved.
"Tragically, there have been fatalities," Dykstra said, adding that no further details will be released while the investigation is ongoing. He noted that some individuals were able to reach safety.
Squamish Search and Rescue deployed to the Squamish River area on Thursday afternoon, and North Shore Rescue members were observed leaving the search-and-rescue base later that night.
The incident follows several days of heavy rain that have swollen rivers and flooded roads across the Sea-to-Sky region. Environment and Climate Change Canada recorded 135 millimetres of rain at Squamish Airport between Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon. The B.C. River Forecast Centre has kept a flood warning in place, and the village of Pemberton and the Paradise Valley community north of Squamish are under shelter-in-place orders. More than 50 properties in the Lil'wat Nation and several homes on Airport Road in Pemberton have been ordered to evacuate, while Highway 99 remains closed east of Pemberton.
The River Forecast Centre projected that water levels would peak by Thursday afternoon but warned that another storm system could create additional challenges over the weekend.
Earlier Thursday morning, a woman was rescued after her vehicle became stuck in floodwater on Squamish Valley Road. Squamish Search and Rescue was responding to the area when a passerby heard her yelling and helped free her.
"She's very lucky, which is a great community effort," said Squamish Search and Rescue manager Mike Teske, noting the woman was trapped in waist-high water for more than an hour but maintained cell service.
Teske advised that if a vehicle becomes immobilised in floodwater, staying on the roof of the car is the safest option while awaiting assistance.