Latest news with #BanffNationalPark
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Search for victims resumes after massive rockfall near Bow Lake in Banff National Park
Rescuers in Alberta were set to resume their search for others who might be missing today after a massive rockfall that killed one and injured three in Banff National Park. Parks Canada visitor safety teams will continue working to assess the site with support from Canada Task Force Two (CAN-TF2 Calgary), a national disaster response team, officials said Friday in a release. "A Canada Task Force One … geotechnical engineer will conduct a slope stability assessment. The safety of first responders and park visitors is our top priority," the statement said. The task force team is also conducting infrared flights in the area with help from members of the Calgary Police Service. RCMP are still working to notify next of kin and no further information about the person who was killed is yet available, officials said. The rockfall was reported at about 1:30 p.m. on Thursday when Lake Louise RCMP were notified that "multiple hikers" were caught in a rockfall near Bow Glacier Falls. Parks Canada, the Lake Louise fire department, STARS Air Ambulance, the RCMP and EMS responded to the scene. According to STARS, two helicopters were dispatched — STAR-1 from Calgary and STAR-3 from Edmonton — and transported one patient each to Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary. The conditions of those taken to hospital have not yet been shared. Bow Lake remains closed to all visitors and a no-fly zone remains in place to ensure public safety and for park operations, officials said. "Alpine Club of Canada guests staying at Bow Hut are safe. Visitors staying at Bow Hut will be able to exit on schedule via the usual route, which is unaffected and safe to travel," the release said. The Icefields Parkway (Highway 93N) remains open with possible intermittent, short-term traffic stoppages in the vicinity of the incident. Bow Glacier Falls is located about three kilometres to the southwest of Bow Lake and is accessible via a popular hiking trail.
National Post
3 hours ago
- Science
- National Post
How does a rockslide happen? 'The mountain that moves' was Canada's deadliest
A large rockslide in Banff National Park left up to 15 hikers injured Thursday, leading to one potential death and raising a series of questions about how and why the disaster occurred. Article content With officials still working on rescue and treatment of survivors, it will be some time until an investigation concludes why the rockslide happened. But a look at published research and archive news articles on rockslides provides some general information about the dangerous occurrences. Article content Article content Article content Article content A rockslide happens when a large chunk of rock detaches itself from the mountain where it sits and begins sliding down the slope. Why does this occur? Well, natural erosion or seismic activity can cause a rockslide, as can heavy rainfalls. Human activity such as excavation, construction or mining can also lead to a rockslide. Article content As one chunk of rock begins its downward slide, it can quickly gain momentum and trigger massive amounts of other rock to also begin sliding, leading to devastating effects. notes a landslide or rockslide can occur 'when gravitational and other types of shear stresses within a slope exceed the shear strength (resistance to shearing) of the materials that form the slope.' Article content What's the difference between a landslide and a rockslide? Article content A landslide occurs when sediment or loose dirt disengages from a hill or mountain and begins moving downwards. A rockslide, however, means solid rocks are also being swept down a slope during a similar type of event. Rockslides are also incredibly fast-moving, as they tend to move down a flat surface of a mountain. Article content The most horrific rockslide in Canadian history occurred in 1903 when a huge slab of Turtle Mountain crashed down onto the town of Frank and Crowsnest Pass (about 250 kilometres southwest of Calgary). At least 72 known residents were killed in the natural disaster, as were an undetermined number of others visiting or passing through the area. Some historians thus put the death toll closer to 90. Article content An estimated 80 to 110 million tonnes of rock were involved in the deadly event that came to be known as Frank Slide. The rockslide only lasted about a minute and a half. Article content Newspaper clippings and archive stories from the rockslide describe the horrific results that led to the deaths of men, women and children. As those clippings note, information about the state of some of the victims was disturbing, but shed light on how powerful the rockslide was: 'The leg and hip of a man was found lying fifty yards from the Imperial Hotel.'
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Multiple hikers feared dead as rockslide pummels Canada's Banff National park
Multiple people are feared dead after a horrific rockslide on Thursday swept up numerous hikers who had been enjoying Canada 's Banff National Park. The rockfall, north of Lake Louise, was triggered near Bow Glacier Falls at around 1:30pm and 'multiple hikers' were caught in it, said the Lake Louise Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). A joint statement by RCMP and Parks Canada confirmed one person died at the scene, and three others were evacuated to the hospital. Their conditions have not been shared at this time. Rescuers in Alberta are set to resume their search on Friday until dark for anyone else who may have been caught in the rockfall. Video posted online of the incident showed a large shelf of stone rocketing down a mountainside, which then caused a huge cloud of gray dust to rise into the air.
CTV News
4 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
One dead, three injured in Banff National Park rockslide
One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. It happened around 1 p.m. on Thursday at Bow Glacier Falls. Parks Canada's Lake Louise Yoho Kootenay Field Unit said the location was 'approximately 37 km north of Lake Louise on the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North).' Parks Canada and RCMP issued a joint statement on Thursday night. 'One person was located deceased at the scene. Two individuals were evacuated by STARS air ambulance and one by ground ambulance, and their conditions are unknown at this time,' the statement said. Deadly rockslide in Banff National Park, June 19, 2025 One person died and three others taken to hospital after a rockslide near the Bow Lake Glacier, a popular hiking spot in Banff National Park, on June 19, 2025. (Supplied) STARS air ambulance sent helicopters from Calgary and Edmonton. Thursday evening, STARS said its crews had returned to their respective bases after having transported people from the staging site at the rockslide. 'Each helicopter transported one patient to Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary,' STARS said. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. STARS also could not provide the conditions of the patients. Alberta Health Services confirmed the involvement of EMS in the response but likewise could not provide additional information. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. Parks Canada and RCMP said they would search to confirm that no other hikers remain missing until dark and then resume at first light. They said anyone missing a loved one should contact Parks Canada's Banff Dispatch at 403-762-1470. 'Parks Canada and RCMP are operating drone searches and dog handlers are assisting when and where it is safe to do so,' the statement said. 'Geotechnical assessments will take place when assessors arrive.' Parks Canada and RCMP said Alpine Club of Canada guests staying at Bow Hut are safe and will be able to exit on schedule. 'Bow Lake is closed to all visitors. A NOTAM (no-fly zone) is in place to ensure public safety and for park operations. Heavy precipitation, including snow, is expected on the Icefields Parkway. Please check the weather forecast and Alberta 511 before travelling,' the statement said. 'Banff National Park remains open and safe to visit. The Icefields Parkway (Highway 93N) remains open with intermittent, short-term traffic stoppages in the vicinity of the incident.' One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. Dan Shugar, a geomorphologist and associate professor at the University of Calgary, said rockslides are common in terrain such as what's found in that area. 'Bow Glacier Falls is quite a popular hiking spot along the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper,' Shugar said. 'Anyone who's been to that area knows it's extremely steep—Bow Glacier Falls in particular. When you hike there, you do hear lots of rocks tumbling off the waterfalls. 'It appears a pretty large chunk of rock to hikers' right of the falls—maybe 100 or 200 metres to the right—is what collapsed.' But Shugar said it's not so common that rockslides result in injuries or fatalities. He said it's 'always a shock' when they do. 'I doubt there would have been anything to forecast such an event,' he said. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. Parks Canada and RCMP offered their condolences in their statement. 'Parks Canada and RCMP are deeply saddened by this tragic incident. Our hearts go out to the friends and families of all involved,' the statement said. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. One person is dead and three people are in hospital in the aftermath of a rockslide in Banff National Park, and the search for others continues. Banff-Kananaskis MLA Sarah Elmeligi posted to social media on Thursday afternoon: 'I am just learning about this tragic event at Bow Falls in Banff National Park. My heart aches every time someone is hurt or worse in our beautiful mountains,' Elmeligi wrote. Edmonton Centre MP and federal cabinet minister Eleanor Olszewski posted, 'My heart is with everyone affected by the rockslide near Bow Glacier Falls in Banff. Grateful to Parks Canada, STARS air ambulance, and all first responders supporting the emergency response.' Premier Danielle Smith also posted: 'I am deeply saddened to learn of the tragic event at Bow Glacier Falls, north of Banff, today,' Smith said. 'We are thinking of all those involved and wishing for their safety as we await further details. 'On behalf of Alberta's government, I also want to offer my most sincere gratitude to the emergency crews including search and rescue teams, and (STARS) for responding quickly.' I am deeply saddened to learn of the tragic event at Bow Glacier Falls, north of Banff, today. We are thinking of all those involved and wishing for their safety as we await further details. On behalf of Alberta's government, I also want to offer my most sincere gratitude to… — Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) June 19, 2025 Salma Lakhani, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, posted, 'I am heartbroken to learn about the tragic rockslide at Bow Glacier Falls in Banff today. My deepest condolences to the families and friends of those lost or injured, and grateful for the swift response by (Parks Canada), RCMP, (STARS and) all emergency teams.' And MP and federal cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault also posted: 'I'm aware of the rock slide incident at Bow Glacier Falls in Banff National Park,' he wrote. 'Thank you to the (Parks Canada) visitor safety teams and first responders on the ground. 'My prayers are with everyone affected as we await further details.'
National Post
5 hours ago
- Climate
- National Post
One dead after rockslide near Bow Glacier Falls in Banff National Park
NEAR BOW LAKE, Alta. — One hiker was killed and others injured after a rockslide Thursday afternoon near Bow Glacier Falls in Banff National Park. Article content A joint statement from RCMP and Parks Canada at 9:15 p.m. confirmed that one person was located deceased at the scene, near Bow Glacier Falls, approximately 37 kilometres north of Lake Louise on the Icefields Parkway, also known as Highway 93N. Two individuals were evacuated by STARS Air Ambulance and one by ground ambulance, and their conditions were unknown at time of writing. Article content Article content 'Search will continue tomorrow (Friday) to confirm that no other hikers remain missing,' the statement read, adding that those missing loved ones can contact Parks Canada's Banff Dispatch at 403-762-1470. Article content 'Parks Canada and RCMP extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the deceased. Parks Canada visitor safety teams will continue search and recovery operations until dark and will resume at first light.' Article content The statement went on to say Parks Canada and RCMP are operating drone searches and dog handlers are assisting when and where it is safe to do so. Geotechnical assessments will take place when assessors arrive, it added. Article content Article content Alpine Club of Canada guests staying at Bow Hut are safe and visitors staying at Bow Hut will be able to exit on schedule via the usual route, which is unaffected and safe to travel. Article content With heavy precipitation in the forecast, Bow Lake is closed to all visitors and a no-fly zone has been put in place to ensure public safety and for park operations. Heavy precipitation including snow is expected on the Icefields Parkway. Article content Parks Canada's Lake Louise Yoho Kootenay Field Unit confirmed a serious rockfall incident occurred around 1 p.m. near Bow Glacier Falls. Article content 'Parks Canada visitor safety teams from Banff and Jasper national parks are responding, with support from other agencies,' the unit said, adding visitors are asked to avoid the area while crews tend to the emergency situation. Article content Near the rockslide location, about 225 kilometres northwest of Calgary, a fish and wildlife truck was seen cruising away from the scene while a helicopter landed at the Lodge at Bow Lake. The aircraft left around 8:45 p.m. with a side-basket, while an ambulance was also observed emerging from the scene. Article content One hiker who witnessed the rockfall didn't want to be interviewed, referring a Postmedia reporter instead to a message shared on social media. Article content 'Heard it while walking around the lake, looked up and just saw the dust cloud behind the treeline,' the hiker said on Reddit. 'Driving back home we saw about six ambulances and numerous other Parks Canada/emergency vehicles.'
