Search efforts at Sequoia National Park for a missing 26-year-old woman have transitioned to a “limited continuous mode,” which means fewer resources will be assigned to the search, park officials announced Thursday.
Jomarie Calasanz, 26, fell into the swift-flowing waters on May 25. A GoFundMe.com fundraiser has been created by the woman’s family, who say Calasanz was trying to save her sister from the waters when she was swept away.
Increasing temperatures have caused rivers to be extremely hazardous. When river conditions improve, “possibly in the coming weeks,” the team will reevaluate next steps, park officials said.
“We are thankful for the dedicated aid of our neighboring agencies and for all of the people who have been involved in the search for Jomarie,” park officials stated in a social media post.
What happened to Calasanz?
The Los Angeles woman was swept away by the cold and extremely fast river currents of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River, near Paradise Creek Bridge in the foothills of Sequoia National Park.
Park officials have said that Calasanz was with friends and family over the Memorial Day weekend when she fell into the water.
“While taking the first dip of the day in deceivingly calm waters, Joanne, Jomarie’s older sister, started to get swept away,” according to a tribute posted on the GoFundMe.com page. “With a brave loving heart and amazing courage, Jomarie, being a swimmer, instantly swam to save her sister.”
Although the women were both swept away, Calasanz’s sister was able to escape the rapids. Calasanz couldn’t be found.
The multi-agency search effort lasted nine days before park officials said they would scale down due to dangerous river conditions.
“Jomarie could still be located within the park, however, due to current river conditions, divers are unable to complete an underwater search of the river,” park officials stated.
What is being done to locate Calasanz?
Information has been posted in the area and rescue staff say they will continue to monitor the river.
Searchers have used a “broad range of techniques” including ground search and rescue, search dogs, an underwater livestream camera and aerial searches by helicopter and unmanned aerial system, according to park officials.
Visitors have been asked to stay out of the water and away from riverbanks during elevated river flow conditions.
“The river current is fast and cold due to increased temperatures causing snowpack melt from higher elevations,” park officials said. “Even areas that appear calm have strong currents that can quickly overpower even the most experienced swimmers. Rocks near the river are extremely slippery, which can lead to accidental slips into the cold, fast-moving waters.”
Any sightings should be reported immediately to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Dispatch at 888-677-2746.
Open water safety tips:
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Search efforts scaled back for Los Angeles woman who fell into Sequoia National park river
Reporting by Sheyanne N Romero, Visalia Times-Delta / Visalia Times-Delta
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
