CALGARY — Several people have died in a boating incident in British Columbia’s Squamish Valley, with police withholding the death toll as investigators work to establish what happened.The incident occurred Thursday, amid heavy rain and flooding across the Sea-to-Sky region.RCMP Insp. Robert Dykstra told CBC the incident involved “several individuals” and confirmed some people reached safety.“Tragically, there have been fatalities,” Dykstra said.Police have not disclosed how many people were involved or how many died, citing the ongoing investigation.Squamish Search and Rescue deployed by helicopter to the Squamish River area Thursday afternoon. North Shore Rescue members were also seen departing their base that evening..The incident unfolded after days of heavy rainfall swelled rivers and flooded roads. Environment and Climate Change Canada recorded approximately 135 millimetres of rain at Squamish Airport between Tuesday morning and early Thursday afternoon.In a Thursday update, Squamish Nation said close to 40 community members had been evacuated from Cheakmus because of flooding risks. Residents at risk of losing access across the Squamish Valley Road bridge were contacted door to door and directed to a reception centre at Totem Hall.Community safety crews were sandbagging vulnerable areas near the Cheakamus River and monitoring rising water levels.The District of Squamish issued a shelter-in-place advisory for the Paradise Valley, Sunwolf Lodge and Cheekye Ranch area, advising residents to remain where they were if safe to do so.Officials warned against walking or driving through floodwater and urged residents to seek higher ground if their shelter became threatened.The investigations remains ongoing.
