Second body recovered after Banff National Park rock slide, three people in stable condition
The death toll from Thursday's fatal rock slide in Banff National Park has climbed to two and the three people transported to hospital are in stable condition, authorities said Friday morning.
The RCMP and Parks Canada, in a joint statement, said rescuers recovered one person's body Friday morning. Authorities are notifying next of kin, but provided no further details. The statement also confirmed that the individual recovered Thursday was a 70-year-old woman who lived in Calgary.
The hikers were killed in a rock slide at Bow Glacier Falls, about 37 kilometres north of Lake Louise. The moderate hike is near Bow Lake, a popular spot on Canada's famed Icefields Parkway.
'At this time, there are no additional persons reported missing and no additional unidentified vehicles at the trailhead located at Bow Lake,' the update said.
The three people transported to hospital Thursday afternoon are in 'stable' condition, according to Friday's update.
The rock slide happened around 1 p.m. Thursday. Witnesses have shared video on social media showing part of the headwall crashing down and an enormous cloud of grey dust rising from the valley.
Parks Canada visitor safety teams on Friday are working with a geotechnical engineer from Canada Task Force One out of Vancouver, members of Canada Task Force Two from Calgary, and the Calgary Police Service.
Bow Glacier Falls remains closed to visitors, with a no-fly zone in place. Bow Lake and the trail to Bow Hut have reopened.
Highway 93 North, known as the Icefields Parkway, is open with the potential for intermittent, short-term traffic delays in the area of Thursday's incident. Heavy precipitation, including snow, is hitting the Icefields Parkway Friday, according to the update.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
5 hours ago
- CTV News
Warnings of ‘danger' as Ontario is set to face extreme heat: Phillips
Senior Climatologist David Phillips urges people to remain safe during the upcoming heatwave in Ontario as many may not be climatized to the hot weather.
CTV News
5 hours ago
- CTV News
Parts of Sask. could receive up to 80 millimetres of rain this weekend
Areas of Ontario and Quebec have rainfall warnings on June 19, 2025. (Pexels) A rainy weekend is expected in parts of Saskatchewan, with up to 80 millimetres of rain possible in some areas by Saturday night. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a rainfall warning for a portion of west central Saskatchewan around 3:30 p.m. on Friday. According to the warning, showers will begin late Friday evening and overnight before turning into heavy rain on Saturday morning. The weather agency says the heavy rain will continue during the day but will taper off in the evening. As of Friday afternoon, the warning covered areas including Kindersley, Eston, Rosetown, and surrounding regions. ECCC warns heavy downpours may lead to flash flooding and water pooling on roads, advising residents to stay alert and monitor forecasts here. ECCC As of Friday evening, parts of west central Saskatchewan were under a rainfall warning. (Photo source: Environment and Climate Change Canada) Increased runoff In an advisory Friday afternoon, the Water Security Agency (WSA) said the large amounts of rain is likely to increase runoff into the South Saskatchewan River, as well as other bodies of water between Lake Diefenbaker and the western border. WSA advises people to take precautions around lakes and rivers, making sure to be aware that water levels can change quickly and without warning. WSA asks the public to check local conditions before venturing on or near bodies of water and says it will provide updates as necessary.
National Post
6 hours ago
- National Post
Second death confirmed in Banff rockslide: 'Neither preventable nor predictable'
A rock slide in Banff National Park claimed two lives on Thursday, including a senior woman from Calgary. Article content RCMP and Parks Canada officials said Friday afternoon that their search for victims went on through the night and into the morning at Bow Glacier Falls. Article content Article content The first death was confirmed to be a 70-year-old woman from Calgary, Jutta Hinrichs, while the second hiker's body was recovered early Friday morning. That person had not been identified by Friday afternoon. Article content 'RCMP are notifying their next of kin and no further information is available at this time,' the agencies said in a joint statement. Article content Article content 'At this time, there are no additional persons reported missing and no additional unidentified vehicles at the trailhead located at Bow Lake.' Article content Officials added that three injured hikers taken to hospital by STARS air ambulance and ground ambulance Thursday were all in stable condition. In total, 13 visibly injured visitors or non-injured bystanders were evacuated from the scene. Article content There were ultimately 100 personnel involved in the response effort, including crews from several first response agencies. Article content As part of search efforts, Canada Task Force 2 — a natural disaster response team — conducted infrared flights, through their partners in the Calgary Police Service, to complete a thorough assessment of the area. Article content Meanwhile, a geotechnical engineer from Canada Task Force 2 conducted a slope stability assessment. Article content Article content Francois Masse, Parks Canada superintendent for the Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay field unit, said that assessment revealed the rockfall was caused by natural processes in mountain areas. Article content 'Sadly, this extremely rare event appears to have been neither preventable nor predictable,' he told reporters. Article content 'Parks Canada and the RCMP extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the two individuals who lost their lives. Our thoughts also remain with those in hospital and we hope for their full recovery.' Article content Article content The first victim was confirmed as Jutta Hinrichs, a retired occupational therapist from Calgary and a clinical education co-ordinator for the University of Alberta. She was a member of a local hikers group called Slow and Steady Hikers, some of whose members were caught in the rock slide.
