Heavy rains, flooding and high winds have created chaos on Vancouver Island as the latest B.C.
The following written content from Graham Cox
Residents across Vancouver Island experienced power outages, flooding and road closures, among other challenges, as the weather overwhelmed multiple communities.
Along with major roads such as Highway 1 shutting down, Emcon Service and the Province of BC are asking drivers to stay safe by avoiding the roads if they can.
Residents took to social media to share some of the havoc caused by the latest storm, showcasing imagery that is not often seen on Vancouver Island.
Below is a collection of scenes that have been caused by the ongoing adverse weather. Read more from Chek
The following written content from Stuti Mishra
Authorities in Canada’s British Columbia province have sent helicopters on multiple missions to rescue hundreds of people trapped in their cars after heavy rains triggered landslides.
About 275 people, including 50 children, in more than 100 vehicles have been trapped on a highway near the mountain town of Agassiz since Sunday evening, according to city and rescue authorities.
Rescuers have been making several rounds of the affected highway with Canadian forces cormorant helicopters, bringing people from the cars to a nearby reception area.
“The situation is dynamic … it is very difficult weather,” provincial public safety minister Mike Farnworth told reporters.
“This is a very harrowing time,” he said at a news conference on Monday afternoon. “People are working as hard and fast and safe as they can.”
He added there no deaths have been confirmed so far.
Further weather warnings have also been issued with gales due to hit the area later. Officials have said that there can be power outages.
Landslides began on Sunday in Canada’s western province after rainstorms had already disrupted life. Authorities have shut down roads and evacuated a city, while an oil pipeline has been shut and flights have been delayed.
More than 7,000 residents of Merritt city, which is about 200km from state capital Vancouver, were asked to evacuate after the river overflowed and cut off bridges, and forced the wastewater treatment plant to shut down.
“Continued habitation of the community without sanitary services presents risk of mass sewage back-up and personal health risk,” the city said in an official notice.
Video footage on social media showed roads have been partly washed away near the town of Hope.
The Trans Mountain oil pipeline, which ships 300,000 barrels a day of crude and refined products from Alberta to the Pacific Coast, was also shut down on Monday. Read more from Independent
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