The search for a missing man in the area of the Westside Road landslide is continuing, and Vernon Search and Rescue (VSAR) is offering its assistance.
The landslide along Westside Road happened on April 1, closing the stretch of road in both directions. The next day, RCMP received a report that people experiencing homelessness may have been living at an encampment in the Reid Creek area near the now-closed Lake Okanagan Resort, close to where the slide took place. Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) was called to assist with the initial search on April 2.
On April 7, the West 琉璃神社 RCMP opened a missing persons investigation, after items were found that could possibly be connected to a missing individual, who was confirmed to have been last seen near the landslide. The RCMP did not release the missing person's name in order to protect their privacy, however, police did indicate that it was a man that crews were searching for.
COSAR has since been called in to search the area by ground, air and water.
And, on Thursday, April 10, VSAR's boat team joined the effort.
COSAR expressed its appreciation for the help from Vernon in a social media post, stating VSAR's boat team had been out early that morning heading to the west side of Okanagan Lake to assist in the search for the missing man near the Reid Creek area.
"Their experience and equipment are significant assets," COSAR said, adding that its boat team joined the efforts on the water in the afternoon.
The landslide that hit Westside Road has been estimated at 20,000 tonnes, according to COSAR's Ed Henczel, who looked to quantify the soil, rocks, logs and debris that was dislodged in the incident.
The items believed to belong to the missing man include a hat, a boot, construction tools and a notebook.
According to Henczel, the RCMP's dive team searched Okanagan Lake from the shoreline to about 30m out on April 11 but did not find anything of significance.
COSAR's boat team returned to the water on Saturday, April 12.
COSAR volunteers have collectively spent more than 1,000 hours searching the slide area.
鈥� With files from Jacqueline Gelineau
