A boat that belonged to four missing hunters from Fort Chipewyan has been found, but the search continues for the men themselves, RCMP said Tuesday.
“Search and rescue teams with the assistance of two helicopters and approximately 30 boats from the community are out on the waters,” RCMP said in a news release.
Police said Fort Chipewyan RCMP responded to a call about four missing hunters at around 12:30 p.m. Monday.
The men, all experienced hunters, had left the community Sunday night on the Rocher River, north of Fort Chipewyan.
They were heading to a nearby area known as Devil’s Gate.
Parks Canada and RCMP started searching the river and located the hunters’ boat, RCMP said.
Concern is growing as the search continues, RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Ron Bumbry said in an interview.
“There is always just a general concern, obviously, for anyone who is out in the wilderness for long periods of time,” Bumbry said. “It doesn’t matter what type of background that they do have. Obviously, a longer duration that they’re out there, there’s a higher concern.”
Bumbry said 70 volunteers fom the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and the Mikisew Cree First Nation are currently involved in the search, in boats and on land.
A fixed-wing aircraft did a flyover of a specific area on Monday, he said.
The temperature in the area is about 5 C, Bumbry said.
There is some ice in the river but it isn’t hampering search efforts, he said.
RCMP said they will provide a further update once more details are available.
‘Never giving up hope’
Eriel Deranger, a spokesperson for the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN), said the river “has opened up, but it’s a combination of mud and ice still.”
The hunters had been expected to return to the community later Sunday, Deranger said.
“ACFN is ensuring [the] community is supported and our energy and prayers are with them,” Deranger said in a text message to CBC News.
The names of the four missing men have not officially been released.
On Tuesday morning, the fiancée of one of the men identified as missing by some in the community, wrote on her Facebook page: “I know he’s coming home I’m never giving up hope.”
Fort Chipewyan, just east of Wood Buffalo National Park on the northwest shore of Lake Athabasca, is home to about 1,200 people. It is about 600 kilometres north of Edmonton.