Storm in British Columbia: Floods and landslides in Canada

Torrential days of rain have caused floods and landslides in the western Canadian province of British Columbia. Many people had to leave their homes. A woman was killed.

A violent storm hit the western Canadian province of British Columbia throughout the weekend and into Monday. Heavy, prolonged rain has led to floods and landslides.

According to media reports, residents of numerous localities and parts of the cities of Chilliwack and Abbotsford had to be brought to safety. Hundreds of people were rescued from their cars by helicopter across British Columbia on Monday. British Columbia’s Minister of Transport, Rob Fleming, called the storm “the worst storm in a century”.

One dead, at least two missing people

After a mudslide, emergency services recovered the woman’s body on an expressway near Lillooet, the police said. At least two other people were reported missing in the incident near the community around 185 kilometers northwest of Vancouver. Other vehicles with occupants could therefore have been recorded.

Abbotsford authorities reassigned remaining rural residents Monday evening to seek immediate safety. Due to an impending pumping station failure, there is a threat of a “catastrophic” flooding in the Sumas prairie.

No drinking water, defective sewage system

In the particularly badly affected small town of Merritt, the water levels fell on Tuesday. But there is still no drinking water and no functioning sewage system, local media reported. It could take more than a week before residents are allowed to return to their homes. All three bridges are impassable – one has collapsed, the other two need to be checked.