Two people were killed and three others injured in a rockslide on Thursday while hiking in Banff National Park, Alberta, a popular tourist destination in Canada.
The authorities recovered the body of one victim, a 70-year-old woman from Calgary, on Thursday. The second body was found on Friday, but no further details about that individual have been released. Officials confirmed they are not searching for any additional victims.
The incident occurred near Bow Glacier Falls, approximately a half-hour drive north of Lake Louise, known for its striking blue waters and mountainous backdrop. Banff National Park attracts around four million visitors annually, making it Canada’s most frequented national park.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith expressed her condolences regarding the tragic event at Bow Glacier Falls in a statement.
Emergency crews responded early Thursday afternoon, discovering one hiker deceased at the scene. Two injured hikers were transported to a hospital via helicopter, while a third was taken by ambulance. The nature of their injuries has not been disclosed.
On Friday, disaster response teams utilized infrared cameras to survey the area for additional victims, ultimately locating the second hiker’s body and confirming there were no further casualties.
Authorities are in the process of notifying the next of kin of the deceased and have sent a geotechnical engineer to assess the slope for potential risks of further rockslides, as stated in a joint announcement by Parks Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The Bow Glacier Falls trail, where the incident occurred, is approximately 2.7 miles long in one direction and is rated as suitable for moderately experienced hikers, taking about three hours to complete, according to Parks Canada.