Water accident

Police have confirmed that all three victims of a fatal boat accident have been located in the Squamish area.Several police and SAR agencies were involved in the dynamic and dangerous search after the boat overturned early Thursday afternoon on the swollen Squamish River.Initially, two people were confirmed dead and one remained missing. On Friday, the third victim’s body was located.
Police did not specify the total number of people involved, but noted that “all other individuals involved are accounted for.”“Recovery efforts are currently underway,” an RCMP release noted. “The complexities, technical elements of the area and flooding have required the deployment of specialized resources to support operations.”In a previous update, the RCMP said that weather and river conditions were playing “a significant role in the response efforts.”Squamish and other parts of the coast and eastern Vancouver Island have been slammed by several days of heavy rain and strong winds, leading to flood and evacuation alerts.“Weather patterns, water levels and river conditions can change rapidly,” Cpl. Ashley MacKay of the Squamish RCMP had previously explained. “Those factors are being continuously assessed as search and recovery efforts continue.”West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA-elect Jeremy Valeriote said Friday that he was “devastated” to hear of the deaths in Squamish.“For the past week, communities in the Sea to Sky have been grappling with the impacts of severe flooding, responding to warnings, evacuations and significant disruptions,” he said.“This news brings another layer of heartbreak to the community this week…my thoughts are with (the victims’) families and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”Investigators are continuing to gather and assess information as they work to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Squamish RCMP.