Quite a few hikers have been caught in a rockfall north of Lake Louise with a number of individuals injured or killed, in line with the RCMP.
At round 1:30 p.m., Lake Louise RCMP had been notified that “a number of hikers” had been caught in a rockfall on a path within the Bow Lake/Bow Glacier Falls space.
RCMP Cpl. Gina Slaney stated the most recent info out there is that the incident includes “severe accidents and/or a number of fatalities,” however she did not have precise particulars as there isn’t any cell service within the space and getting info from the scene is tough.
Parks Canada, the Lake Louise fireplace division, STARS Air Ambulance and the RCMP are all responding and dealing to entry the scene, she stated.
In response to STARS, two helicopters had been dispatched — STAR-1 from Calgary and STAR-3 from Edmonton — and transported one affected person every to Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary. No info on the situation of both affected person has been shared.
Parks Canada stated in an electronic mail the company is “responding to a report of a severe rockfall incident with involvement close to Bow Glacier Falls” in Banff Nationwide Park, about 37 kilometres north of Lake Louise on the Icefields Parkway, often known as Freeway 93 North.
Non permanent closures are anticipated on the freeway close to Bow Lake and “Parks Canada asks that guests keep away from the world whereas groups reply.”
‘We have to run as quick as we are able to’
Canmore resident Niclas Brundell was out mountain climbing within the space together with his spouse when the rockfall occurred.
He advised CBC Information that they had scrambled as much as an space to the appropriate of the falls, the place a number of different teams had been additionally exploring and taking pictures. He estimates about 15 to twenty individuals had been within the quick space.
He and his spouse turned alarmed when a number of small rocks began to fall, they usually started to maneuver away from the world.
“Then we heard this like ‘chunk’ noise and the entire roof of the wall got here free,” he stated, referring to an overhanging part of rock on the cliffs subsequent to the waterfalls.
“And we simply began sprinting down. I used to be yelling at my spouse, ‘Go, go, go! We have to run as quick as we are able to.'”
A photograph of Bow Glacier Falls taken by a hiker shortly after a big part of rock fell from the cliffs beside it on June 19, 2025. The hiker stated the part that fell is to the appropriate of the falls on this picture. (Contributed by Niclas Brundell)
When Brundell regarded again over his shoulder, he stated he noticed a cloud of mud and particles forming because the rock crashed into the slopes beneath.
“We simply saved sprinting and I could not see the individuals behind us anymore as a result of they had been all in that cloud of rock. And I noticed rocks coming tumbling out of that. So it was, it was huge. It was, like, the complete mountainside.”
“To me it regarded like not less than, like 50 metres vast and not less than 10 metres deep.”
After they obtained to a secure distance, Brundell used an emergency satellite tv for pc machine to name for assist, informing responders that there have been “many teams” within the space the place the rock fell.
“It is terrible,” he stated.
‘We’re all heartbroken’
In a social media submit, Parks Canada provided “its deepest condolences to these impacted” by the “tragic rockfall.”
“We’re all heartbroken by the current tragedy at Bow Glacier Falls in Banff Nationwide Park. On behalf of Parks Canada, my ideas are with the households and associates of those that are affected,” stated Ron Hallman, president and CEO of Parks Canada.
Edmonton Centre MP and Minister of Emergency Administration Eleanor Olszewski expressed her concern for these affected by the incident in a social media submit Thursday afternoon.
“My coronary heart is with everybody affected by the rock slide close to Bow Glacier Falls in Banff. Grateful to Parks Canada, STARS air ambulance, and all first responders supporting the emergency response,” her submit on X stated.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith stated she was “deeply saddened to be taught of the tragic occasion.”
“We’re pondering of all these concerned and wishing for his or her security as we await additional particulars,” she posted on X.
Extra to come back…
