Two fishermen swept away in American River near Auburn, sheriff says. Rescue teams search

Rescue teams in Placer County were searching for two possible drowning victims Sunday in the North Fork American River near Auburn.

Three 20-year-olds were fishing in the Oregon Bar area Saturday, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. Two men entered the water and one was swept away around 7 p.m. The second tried to help but was also pulled in by the river, which was running high and fast after recent rainfall from an atmospheric river.

Authorities responded to the area Saturday night with a dive team but were unable to conduct a search on the water due to darkness and the fast-moving current. A search of the nearby shore and an aerial search by helicopter were unsuccessful.

Police relaunched the search effort on Sunday on both sides of the river with K9 teams and the dive team. Drones were on standby to aid the search but were impeded by a thick morning fog.

The two missing men have not been identified.