SOUTHEND, SK - RCMP have confirmed the deaths of five people after a float plane crashed in northern Saskatchewan.
The plane went down hard into the waters of Buss Lake Thursday afternoon. Officials from La Ronge, Sask., initially reported three deaths before raising the total to five killed on Friday.
"Yesterday we confirmed three were deceased. We were able to return two of those deceased to La Ronge yesterday. One of them remained at the scene and that was due to darkness," Sgt. Paul Dawson said.
"We can also confirm today that there are two additional victims at the scene. So we have a total of five confirmed deceased."
Searchers have said it was difficult to determine how many people were on the aircraft because the plane's owners weren't able to supply that information.
Dawson said a team of underwater divers was on its way to the crash site.
None of the identities of the victims have been released, and there's no word yet on why the plane crashed.
Capt. Keith Hoey of Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Ontario said officials were alerted to the crash after an emergency beacon was detected by satellite at about 1:45 p.m. ET on Thursday.
He said an aircraft in the area heard the signal over the radio and was able to spot the crash site.
Hoey said the plane was a de Havilland Beaver, and the twisted wreckage was in relatively shallow water.
He added that the plane appeared to be on a fishing trip of some kind.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada will be involved in the investigation into the crash.
Police have been using a float plane themselves to reach the remote location, which is over 500 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.
