Searches underway for 2 missing men on Chena, Yukon rivers

A vessel helping pinch nan hunt for Elia Ansaknok’s assemblage drags nan Chena River successful downtown Fairbanks connected Sunday. (Robyne/KUAC)

A hunt continued Sunday connected nan Chena River successful downtown Fairbanks wherever a man went missing successful nan h2o Friday, a time earlier a Yukon River boater was reported overdue.

With prayers and Gwich’in singing, nan family of Elia Ansaknok gathered Sunday greeting to resume searching for his assemblage successful nan Chena River. Elia’s uncle, David Solomon of Copper Center led family members successful song, arsenic Fairbanks constabulary and Alaska State Troopers launched 3 boats yesterday astatine Graehl Landing to dredge nan stream beneath nan pedestrian span wherever Ansaknok went into nan river.

The Fairbanks Fire Department received a study astatine 1:42 p.m. Friday that a man jumped aliases fell disconnected nan Chena River pedestrian bridge, and was seen concisely struggling successful nan water. Since then, searchers from section occurrence and constabulary agencies, troopers, nan U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and nan Tanana Chiefs Conference person dragged nan river.

Ansaknok’s family, including immoderate who traveled successful from Fort Yukon and elsewhere astir nan region, person been opinionated vigil nether canopies successful nan parkland astatine Graehl Landing.

Solomon said nan family is providing sandwiches and drinks for nan searchers, and accepting donations of gasoline and lipid for nan boats arsenic good arsenic food, insubstantial plates, cups and plasticware.

This is nan 2nd calamity for nan Ansaknok family successful 2 months; connected June 17, Andrew Ansaknok drowned successful nan Yukon River astatine Fort Yukon.

A hunt is besides ongoing for a boater adjacent Fort Yukon.

According to an online trooper dispatch, troopers were notified Saturday that Robert Peter was overdue walking from Circle to Fort Yukon.

Aircraft and boats are progressive successful nan hunt effort which includes troopers, Fish and Wildlife Service officers and area residents.

Anyone pinch accusation astir Peter’s whereabouts is asked to interaction Fairbanks troopers astatine 907-451-5100.