A rockslide at Bow Glacier Falls in Banff National Park has hit a number of hikers, causing at least one death, CTV has learned.

RCMP confirmed the incident on Thursday afternoon.

There are multiple people involved, and it’s expected there are dozens injured.

At least one death is expected, officials say.

“Lake Louise RCMP was notified by Lake Louise Fire Department of a rock slide at Bow Falls Trail, located off Hwy 93, approximately 30 km north of Highway 1,” Mounties said.

“The initial report indicated there were multiple hikers and there may be serious injuries and/or fatalities. Parks Canada, STARS and Fire are on scene.”

Emergency services have been dispatched.

“EMS is working closely with its partners to respond to the reported incident at Bow Glacier Falls,” said Shannon Shimek with Alberta Health Services communications.

STARS air ambulance sent helicopters from Calgary and Edmonton.

Parks Canada is aware of the incident.

“Parks Canada is responding to a report of a serious rockfall incident with involvement near Bow Glacier Falls in Banff National Park,” the Lake Louise Yoho Kootenay Field Unit said.

“This location is approximately 37 km north of Lake Louise on the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North).

“Parks Canada visitor safety teams from Banff and Jasper national parks are responding, with support from other agencies.”

Parks Canada said traffic would be impacted.

“Temporary closures are expected on Highway 93N (the Icefields Parkway) near Bow Lake to allow for responders to work,” the Lake Louise Yoho Kootenay Field Unit said.

“Parks Canada asks that visitors avoid the area while teams respond.”

Thursday evening, STARS said its crews had returned to their respective bases after having transported people from the staging site at the rockslide.

“Each helicopter transported one patient to Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary,” STARS said.

“Unfortunately, no information on patient condition is available at this time.”

Dan Shugar, geomorphologist and associate professor at the University of Calgary, said rockslides are common in terrain such as what’s found in that area.

“Bow Glacier Falls is quite a popular hiking spot along the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper,” Shugar said.

“Anyone who’s been to that area knows it’s extremely steep—Bow Glacier Falls in particular, when you hike there, you do hear lots of rocks tumbling off the waterfalls.

“It appears a pretty large chunk of rock to hikers’ right of the falls—maybe 100 or 200 metres to the right—is what collapsed.

But Shugar said it’s not so common that rockslides result in injuries or fatalities.

He said it’s “always a shock” when they do.

“I doubt there would have been anything to forecast such an event,” he said.

Banff-Kananaskis MLA Sarah Elmeligi posted to social media on Thursday afternoon:

“I am just learning about this tragic event at Bow Falls in Banff National Park. My heart aches every time someone is hurt or worse in our beautiful mountains,” Elmeligi wrote.

Edmonton Centre MP and federal cabinet minister Eleanor Olszewski posted, “My heart is with everyone affected by the rockslide near Bow Glacier Falls in Banff. Grateful to Parks Canada, STARS air ambulance, and all first responders supporting the emergency response.”

Premier Danielle Smith also posted:

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the tragic event at Bow Glacier Falls, north of Banff, today,” Smith said.

“We are thinking of all those involved and wishing for their safety as we await further details.

“On behalf of Alberta’s government, I also want to offer my most sincere gratitude to the emergency crews including search and rescue teams, and (STARS) for responding quickly.”