The RCMP in Nova Scotia reported that a 46-year-old woman from Cape Breton, who was reported missing on Saturday morning, was discovered deceased in a flooded area of Richmond County later that same day.

First responders located the woman’s body at approximately 2:30 p.m. AT on Saturday, close to Kempt Road in Cleveland, N.S.

The search commenced in the morning after authorities were alerted about the missing woman and her vehicle was found parked near her home, adjacent to a flooded bridge.

On Tuesday, the RCMP provided additional information concerning the death of the woman. Her body was located that afternoon not far from her home in Cleveland, N.S.

According to Sgt. Brad Kelly, it seems the woman was heading back home and had parked her vehicle on one side of a culvert she needed to cross to access her property, which had been washed away on the other side. He indicated that the body was found just a short distance away.

“There’s no indication of foul play or anything suspicious involved. It’s truly a tragic situation,” he stated to CBC News.

WATCH | Cape Breton woman found dead in flooded area:

Cape Breton woman found dead in flooded area

September 6|

Duration

1:19

The 46-year-old was initially reported missing Saturday after her vehicle was found near a flooded bridge. Ethan Hunt has the story.

In a statement released on Sunday, Premier Tim Houston expressed his condolences to the victim’s family and urged residents to refrain from traveling through affected regions.

“To everyone in Nova Scotia, please continue to take care of yourselves and one another and heed the guidance of local authorities,” Houston advised.

“Avoid driving while the weather conditions are severe. Your safety is our top priority.”

• Mobile readers conserving data can see the CBC Lite version of this story here

Heavy rainfall has inundated parts of Cape Breton with over 200 millimetres since Friday morning, leading to local states of emergency and significant damage to vital infrastructure.

Port Hawkesbury CAO Terry Doyle characterized the situation as unprecedented for the region. “We have never seen anything of this magnitude and impact,” Doyle commented.

MORE TOP STORIES

• ‘We really weren’t prepared for that’: Torrential rain batters Cape Breton

• What’s open and closed in Halifax on Labour Day 2026

• ‘Pretty painful’: Fiction writer’s new book examines her family’s tragedies, grief

• Video

  See the flooding from a severe storm in Cape Breton

• State of emergency declared in 3 Cape Breton counties after storm, flooding