Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet (May 28/01) - Eight families are safe and sound after a warm front moved in during the annual Rankin Inlet Fishing Derby.
The Department of Community Government and Transportation's Shawn Maley said rapidly melting ice and snow conditions left the families stranded.
"It's not that abnormal for these conditions to happen at this time of year," said Maley.
"The weather warmed up really quickly and it became extremely difficult to travel out on the land."
Nunavut Emergency Management Services in conjunction with the Rankin Inlet Search and Rescue Committee chartered a helicopter to locate the missing persons.
One woman was picked up at Peter Lake and returned to Rankin Inlet in good health.
Because of the difficulties of travel through soft snow, Maley said snowmobiles burn twice as much gas in the conditions created by the warm front.
He says local SAR members took fuel to those who were running low.
"Some of the families are quite comfortable out there and are heading back to Rankin under their own steam when they're ready.
"Other people were already in the process of heading back in when we located them.
"Everyone's accounted for and we're not worried about anyone."
