Three dead after boat overturns on Squamish River, B.C.

Three people have died after a boat overturned on the Squamish River in southwestern British Columbia on Thursday amid flooding and stormy weather, RCMP said Friday.

Squamish RCMP responded to the incident at 1:52 p.m. PT Thursday. Police said Friday morning that two people had been found dead and a search was under way for a third. By Friday afternoon, police confirmed the third person had also been found dead, according to CBC News.

Police have not confirmed how many people were aboard, but told The Canadian Press that everyone involved has been accounted for.

Cpl. Ashley MacKay said conditions were extremely difficult and unsafe for responders because of elevated water levels and the weather. “The weather and river conditions have played a significant role in the response efforts,” she said. “This is a very dynamic and evolving incident, and the safety of responders and the public remains paramount.”

RCMP Cpl. Brett Urano said investigators are working to determine what happened. “We send the condolences out to those who are affected,” he said.

RCMP Air Services, the Lower Mainland District Integrated Emergency Response Team, the Lower Mainland District Underwater Recovery Team and West Coast Marine Services took part in the search. Police are asking the public to stay off the water because of dangerous flow rates and debris throughout the river systems.

Squamish Valley Road, the vehicle route into the remote area, is closed at the Pilchuck Bailey Bridge because of flooding. Heavy rain has swollen rivers across the Sea-to-Sky region this week, and the District of Squamish issued a shelter-in-place advisory on Thursday for parts of the area. The Canadian Press reported that more than 300 millimetres of rain fell in parts of southwestern B.C. in 48 hours. Our earlier coverage of the flooding is here, and Environment Canada’s latest outlook is in our report on possible coastal flooding in Vancouver and Victoria.

Police said the investigation is continuing.

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Sources: Squamish RCMP statements as reported by CBC News and The Canadian Press.