Lake of the Woods County ( trfnews.i234.me ) – Emergency crews are responding to a reported boat capsizing at Swift Ditch east of Warroad.
Initial scanner traffic at 6:57 p.m. Monday reported children were under the vessel.
Their conditions are not known at this time. No official injury report has been released.
The location involves water moving between a river channel and the lake. Exact coordinates are still unclear.
Agencies were dispatched to the area shortly after the call. More units may be staging near public access points.
Details on the craft’s size and the number of occupants are not yet confirmed.
We have requested official information from responding agencies. We will update as soon as the facts are verified.
What we know
- Report time: about 6:57 p.m. on Labor Day.
- Location: Swift Ditch, east of Warroad, Lake of the Woods.
- Incident: Capsized boat; scanner traffic mentioned children under the hull.
- Status: Active rescue response. Patient status unknown.
- Agencies: Local responders dispatched; full roster pending confirmation.
Public guidance
Avoid the Swift Ditch area during operations. Do not crowd ramps or shorelines.
Yield waterway right-of-way to rescue boats. Keep drones grounded near active scenes.
If you witnessed the capsizing, call 911 and share your location and time stamps.
Safety context
Capsize rescues move fast and can be hazardous for bystanders. Trained crews use specific techniques to stabilize a hull.
Life jackets greatly improve survival in cold or swift water. Children should always wear properly sized PFDs on the water.
Resources
See boating safety guidance from the Minnesota DNR and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Local information about services in the area is available from the City of Warroad.
This is a developing story. We will report verified updates from the incident command when available.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
