Search Suspended for Kenyan Woman Swept Away in British Columbia River

A 24-year-old Kenyan woman is presumed dead after a vehicle carrying two women plunged into the North Thompson River in Kamloops, British Columbia, during strong spring currents on Sunday evening.

The accident happened near the junction of Schubert Drive and Birch Avenue, close to where the North and South Thompson rivers meet. Witnesses alerted emergency services immediately, while three civilians entered the river in an attempt to rescue the occupants despite the dangerous conditions.

Police, fire crews and Kamloops Search and Rescue teams responded within minutes. One passenger, a 21-year-old woman, was pulled from the water with the help of bystanders and taken to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. One of the civilian rescuers also received medical treatment and is recovering.

The driver, identified by community sources as a woman from Uasin Gishu County in Kenya, was swept away after the vehicle became submerged in the fast-moving river. Search teams used boats, drones and shoreline patrols in an extensive effort to locate her, but she has not been found. 

Authorities now believe she drowned because of the severe river conditions, including strong currents, icy water and poor visibility. Search operations have been suspended because spring snowmelt has made the river too dangerous for divers and rescue crews. Officials said recovery efforts will resume when conditions improve, while teams continue to monitor the area.

Family members and members of the Kenyan community in Canada and Kenya continue to await further updates from authorities.