Police searching for 2 canoeists presumed missing near Tsiigehtchic, N.W.T.

A search and rescue effort is underway for two people presumed missing on the Mackenzie River near Tsiigehtchic, N.W.T.

Fort McPherson RCMP received a report Wednesday that a capsized canoe had been located about five kilometres from Tsiigehtchic.

RCMP say fishing gear and other supplies found with the canoe "have led police to believe that two people have fallen into the river, and are now presumed missing."

Marjorie Dobson, Tsiigehtchic's senior administrative officer, says Daniel Andre, who's from the community, is one of the missing people.

"This morning the RCMP launched a search by air and they looked along the waterways and nearby areas, but we haven't found anything to date," Dobson says.

"However, members of the community will be going up — as a matter of fact, a team has just left, and they will be searching the water, and we will have teams going up intermittently."

The RCMP say boats have been deployed as well as aircraft from the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association. The N.W.T. Department of Environment and Natural Resources is also assisting in the search.

Dobson says the identity of the second person isn't known, but it's believed the individual is not from the territory. She says the two planned to stay at a camp approximately 80 kilometres from Tsiigehtchic for the month of September.