Over 100 Fisherman Get Stranded On A Sheet Of Ice That Broke Off And Floated Into Minnesota Lake

Dozens of fishermen who were stranded on an ice floe that became detached on a lake in northern Minnesota were successfully rescued Friday evening, authorities said. Just before 5 p.m. local time, 122 people were reported stranded on the ice floe in Upper Red Lake after it broke apart from the main ice, Beltrami County Sheriff Jason Riggs said in a news release provided to CBS News. He said there were about 30 feet of open water separating the ice floe from shore. Multiple agencies responded and emergency crews determined that all 122 people would require evacuation, the sheriff said, noting that "additional state resources were requested but canceled because of the efficiency and speed of local emergency responders."

No one was hurt during the ordeal, but four people fell into the water while attempting to canoe to shore prior to the arrival of emergency crews, the sheriff's office said. However, the four returned to the floe and warmed themselves in a fishing shelter while awaiting evacuation, which was completed by 7:30 p.m. This comes after the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on Thursday cautioned ice fishermen to be wary of thin ice on lakes statewide, partially caused by "unseasonably warm weather" this winter.