2 missing, 10 rescued after kayakers go over Virginia dam

Ten victims were rescued, including one self-rescue, after the incident on the James River in Richmond.

ByMelissa Gaffney ABCNews logo
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
10 rescued, 2 missing after kayakers go over dam
Two women are missing after a group of 12 kayakers became stranded and then went over Bosher's Dam in Richmond, Virginia, on Memorial Day.

RICHMOND, Va. -- Two females are missing after a group of 12 kayakers became stranded and then went over Bosher's Dam in Richmond, Virginia, on Monday afternoon.

Ten victims were rescued, including nine rescued by authorities and one self-rescue, after the incident on the James River, according to Richmond Fire Department Assistant Chief Jeffrey Segal.

The incident took place around 3 p.m. and rescue boats entered the water at 3:22 p.m., Segal said. The dam has a 12-foot drop.

The rescue operation to search for the missing females ceased Monday night because it was getting dark and would restart Tuesday at 7 a.m., Segal said.

It's unclear if all the victims knew each other, according to the assistant chief, and if they were all physically inside the kayaks at the time of the emergency.

It's also unknown where the two missing females went missing, Segal said. Their last known location was where most of the victims were rescued.

The operation is still classified as a rescue and not a recovery, Segal added.

ABC News' Ben Siu contributed to this report.