2 people confirmed deceased following boat incident in Squamish Valley: RCMP

SQUAMISH – Police aren’t elaborating on the exact details at this time, but Mounties in Squamish say two people are confirmed deceased following a boat incident in the Squamish Valley that involved multiple individuals.

According to a statement from Sea to Sky RCMP Detachment spokesperson Corporal Ashley MacKay, police were dispatched on Thursday, Nov. 12 at approximately 1:52 p.m. for a “boat incident.”

At this time, police say two people have been confirmed deceased and one person remains missing. All other individuals involved are accounted for.

North Shore Rescue personnel. (Image Credit: North Shore Rescue.)

Due to elevated water levels and challenging weather conditions, search, rescue and recovery efforts on Thursday, Nov. 12 were extremely difficult and unsafe for emergency responders. As a result, search, rescue and recovery operations are continuing today.

Cpl. MacKay says the response is both time-sensitive and complex. Squamish RCMP have requested assistance from Squamish Search and Rescue, RCMP Air Services, the Lower Mainland District Integrated Emergency Response Team (LMD IERT), the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team (URT), and West Coast Marine Services.

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

Police aren’t releasing any further information at this time.