
Second death confirmed in Banff rockslide as search resumes
A second death has been confirmed as a result of Thursday's rockslide in Banff National Park, as a search for other victims continues.
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The RCMP and Parks Canada said in a 10:15 a.m. update that their search continued throughout the night and into the morning at Bow Glacier Falls in Banff National Park.
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A second deceased hiker's body was recovered this morning, while the first death was confirmed to be a 70-year-old woman from Calgary.
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'RCMP are notifying their next of kin and no further information is available at this time,' the agencies said in a joint statement.
They added that three injured hikers transported to hospital by STARS air ambulance and ground ambulance Thursday were all in stable condition.
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As part of ongoing search efforts, Canada Task Force Two is conducting infrared flights, through their partners in the Calgary Police Service, in a continued effort to complete a thorough assessment. At the same time, a geotechnical engineer from the same organization will conduct a slope stability assessment.
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'The safety of first responders and park visitors is our top priority,' the statement said.
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On Thursday at 1 p.m., Parks Canada received the first reports of a serious rockfall at Bow Glacier Falls, which is west of the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93N) near Bow Lake. The area is about 37 kilometres north of Lake Louise in Banff National Park.
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Global TV identified the first deceased victim as Jutta Hinrichs, a retired occupational therapist from Calgary and a clinical education coordinator for the University of Alberta.
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A local hikers group based out of Calgary, called Slow and Steady Hikers, posted on social media that some of their members were caught in the rockfall and that a member named Jutta had passed. Another had broken her arm, while three others were possibly buried in the rock. Hinrichs is listed as a member of that page.
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Bow Lake and the trail to Bow Hut have reopened, according to RCMP and Parks Canada, but Bow Glacier Falls remains closed to all visitors. A no-fly zone enacted Thursday remains in place.
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The Icefields Parkway remains open but with potential intermittent, short-term traffic stoppages in the vicinity of the incident.
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The RCMP also wanted to let people know that people who were Alpine Club of Canada guests, staying at Bow Hut, were all reported safe. Those people will be exiting the area as per the planned route and schedule.
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