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.
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