Fort McPherson (Nov 03/06) - One man is dead and another is missing after their snowmobile broke through the ice on the Peel River.

At about 8 p.m. on Oct. 31, Ernest William Francis, 31, and Gary James Koe, 27, were seen riding a snowmobile on the ice.

It is believed their machine fell through the ice.

Francis was later found and pronounced dead, while Koe is still missing.

"This incident is a tragic reminder that the ice is extremely thin on the river," said Sgt. Merle Carpenter, RCMP detachment commander in Fort McPherson. "You can't judge the thickness and this makes it treacherous."

According to an RCMP press release, this death marks the 12th water-related death in the NWT this year.

Family and friends of the men could not be reached as of press time.