Search for missing person launched following landslide near West Kelowna

RCMP say one person is missing following a pair of landslides near West Kelowna last week.

On April 1,  two landslides, including a massive 90-metre slide, shut down a road north of Lake Okanagan Resort between Vernon and West Kelowna.

At the time, no injuries were reported.

But on Monday, April 7, West Kelowna RCMP said they were opening a missing person investigation for an individual last seen in the area of the slide, in cooperation with Central Okanagan Search and Rescue [COSAR].

"Police in that area have located unique items associated to the missing person and COSAR will be continuing the search for additional items today or tomorrow morning," it said Monday in a statement.

Police say they are not identifying the missing person due to privacy concerns as the investigation is ongoing.

WATCH | Landslides close road between Vernon, West Kelowna: 

Landslide closes the only direct road between Vernon and West Kelowna

5 days ago

Duration 1:44

A debris slide in the central Okanagan has closed off the only direct road running between Vernon and West Kelowna. As Brady Strachan reports, it happened along steep slopes where a wildfire burned trees and vegetation two years ago.

COSAR search manager Ed Henczel said crews had done a sweep of the area last week, including by boat, but sediment in the water had prevented them from doing a full assessment.

"The sediment has gone down enough that we can use a camera ... the boat team is out there now," he told CBC Radio West guest host Brady Strachan.

He said the items found that led investigators to believe a person was swept away in the slide include a boot that matches the shoe size of the missing person, inside door panels from a vehicle, propane canisters, a cooler and a hot tub cover.

"It's worth having a look," he said.

He described the affected area as a "fairly steep slope," going down into Okanagan Lake.

"It drops deep," he said. 

Officials say the area of the slide was "significantly impacted" by the 2023 McDougall Creek Wildfire, as "properties located in the post-wildfire areas are subject to a higher risk of potential debris flow runout and upstream diversion.

Hencezel said the slide had been caused by a normally small creek which had become dammed, leading to a significant build-up of water.

"When it blew, it was hitting trees seven metres high ... ripping massive trees out of the ground," he said.

"It was a big one."