A 34-year-old woman has been reported missing in the Willamette River near Molalla State Park, leading to a comprehensive search and rescue operation. Canby Fire District announced on its Facebook page that the search, which began early last night, is now involving at least seven boats and dive teams from various agencies.
As the circumstances around her disappearance remain unclear, efforts to locate the woman have intensified with responders meticulously combing the river. According to KOIN, the search has prompted officials to close river traffic between the Canby Ferry, and upstream of Molalla State Park to ensure a thorough and unimpeded search.
The KGW reports that the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office stated, "The river is rather deep in certain areas and the search area is extensive". Officials have underscored the challenges the search teams face including the depth and breadth of the river, which has complicated the search efforts.
Search teams were deployed shortly after the woman was reported missing after 5 p.m. yesterday. Divers are reported to be in the water, navigating the depths in hopes of finding the missing woman, "Officials say the river is closed from the Molalla River to the Canby Ferry to allow emergency responders to work", according to KATU. In a display of interagency collaboration, the search has become a joint effort with multiple entities responding to the crisis.
The search is set to continue at daybreak on Monday, as crews return to the river to resume their efforts to locate the missing woman. The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office has not provided details on how the woman went missing but maintains a firm resolve to continue the search operation.
