We often talk about the Saguenay flood, but it is on the North Shore that it caused the greatest damage, with five deaths (out of eight in Quebec) and a 23-meter crevasse on Route 138 isolating the East. of the region for several days.
On July 20, 1996 at 5 a.m., the only access road to the North Shore gave way between Baie-Trinité and Rivière Pentecôte after 50 hours of torrential rains. Five people lost their lives, including four prisoners in their cars engulfed in the huge hole on Route 138.
This was damaged over 30 km. The crisis has led to helicopter rescues, several evacuations of people isolated in the forest, power outages and telecommunications services …
The governments of Jean Chrétien and Lucien Bouchard have implemented emergency measures, involving the intervention of the Canadian Army. Civil security organized the transport of essential goods in collaboration with the Société des Traversiers and the Port of Sept-Îles.
Road transport resumed only on July 26 between Port-Cartier and Baie-Comeau on a road comprising several temporary diversion lanes.
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