3 people dead, 5 rescued after boating incident in Squamish Valley - Global News

Three people are dead after a boating incident in the Squamish Valley on Thursday.

Squamish RCMP confirmed on Friday afternoon that eight people were on board the boat and the other five were rescued.

They stated that at approximately 1:52 p.m., they were called about a boat incident in the area north of Vancouver, but due to elevated water levels and challenging weather conditions, search and rescue and any recovery efforts were extremely difficult and unsafe.

The search and recovery efforts continued on Friday.

“The weather and river conditions have played a significant role in the response efforts,” Cpl. Ashley MacKay of the Squamish RCMP said in a release.

“This is a very dynamic and evolving incident, and the safety of responders and the public remains paramount. Weather patterns, water levels, and river conditions can change rapidly, and those factors are being continuously assessed as search and recovery efforts continue. We are asking the public to stay off the water at this time due to dangerous flow rates and debris throughout the river systems.”

Specialized resources to support operations have been called in, RCMP said.

B.C.’s Premier-designate addressed the incident at a press conference on Friday morning.

“Our hearts are with the people on the ground navigating these conditions,” Lorne Doerkson said.

“There has been loss of life. We’re very sad to hear that news. This is a serious situation developing in our province.”

The Sea-to-Sky region has been hit hard by the recent series of storms.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Village of Pemberton issued an evacuation order for properties on Airport Road, which includes the community’s airport, wastewater treatment facility, wildland fire management base and a public golf course due to flooding and “high-risk river levels.”

On Wednesday night, the Electoral Area C portion of the valley and the village was put under evacuation alert.

Residents were told to shelter in place in that area, but that was lifted on Friday morning.

Lilʼwat Nation has also expanded an evacuation order and alert for the area from Kwetsa7 along the Lillooet River corridor to Lillooet Lake.

The province’s River Forecast Centre put the Sea-to-Sky corridor and Pemberton Valley under a flood warning on Thursday, but that was downgraded on Friday morning.