Responders rescue dozens of people stranded on ice on Upper Red Lake

Nearly three dozen people were rescued Sunday night after they got stranded on an ice chunk in northern Minnesota.

The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office says callers initially reported that 40 to 50 people were stranded on the ice chunk at around 4:45 p.m. Sunday after the chunk drifted around 50 feet from the main ice sheet connected to the shore.

Deputies and several other emergency crews responded and called for an airboat to evacuate those who were stranded.

The last of the 35 people who were stranded were brought to shore just after 8 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office, which added that strong winds pushed the ice chunk “a couple hundred feet” from the main ice sheet.

Fortunately, nobody fell in the water or was hurt. However, authorities are reminding the public that recent weather conditions have caused inconsistent ice conditions and urging anyone who ventures out to use caution and have a way to call for help in case something happens.