Emergency crews are performing rope rescues at two Hamilton waterfalls, and officials say multiple people have been rescued.
Hamilton firefighters, police and paramedics were called minutes apart after 1 p.m. to Albion Falls, on Mountain Brow Boulevard, west of the Red Hill Valley Parkway, and Chedoke Falls, on Scenic Drive, west of Garth Street.
Officials said 10 hikers were stranded on rocks with one person getting stuck in the rapids. Firefighters guided the hikers back up with ropes. The paramedic spokesperson said one of those injured had to be taken to hospital with minor injuries.
READ MORE: City of Hamilton urges waterfall visitors to take precautions
At Chedoke Falls, police and firefighters said a family of five were stuck on an island below the waterfalls as it experienced a flash flood.
Members of the Hamilton police marine unit and firefighters were called in to rescue the family.
“The first phase of the rescue is making sure that people and that you don’t endanger the people you’re rescuing. The second phase of the operation was to get them to shore,” Hamilton Fire Department Platoon Chief Pat Gallacher said after the rescue at Chedoke Falls.
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“Once we got them to shore … they brought the persons from the rock once the water levels dropped over to the west shore. We made a decision that it was safer to wait for the water level to drop rather risk them taking them up (the Niagara Escarpment) and being injured.”
Global News Chief Meteorologist Anthony Farnell said a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the Hamilton area at around the time of the emergency calls. He said based on weather radar, parts of Hamilton received 25 to 50 millimetres of rain in an hour.
WATCH: Hamilton emergency officials respond to 2 waterfall rescues. Shallima Maharaj reports.
News of the rescues comes days after the City of Hamilton announced it installed 215 metres of fencing and 30 new warning signs at Albion Falls amid on-going safety concerns. Earlier this year, city staff posted a safety video and issued tips for those looking to visit area waterfalls. The safety campaign came after a record 25 rope rescues last year by firefighters.
“Visitors to local waterfalls should exercise caution, stay on the marked trails, respect the posted signage and check out the waterfalls from the viewing platforms,” the City’s statement on Friday read.
“Given the recent rainfall, many of Hamilton’s waterfalls will have extra water flowing through them and could be particularly dangerous.”
With files from Ken Mann
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