Floods in Merritt in the province of British Columbia led to damage to the city’s sewage treatment plant, and two bridges were taken by the water masses.
In the town of Agassiz closer to the coast, 275 people were stuck in cars between two landslides Monday night.
Since the morning hours, several motorists had also been hit by landslides elsewhere, the province’s Minister of Public Safety, Mike Farnworth, stated at a press conference.
Among other things, the authorities deployed helicopters to lift up motorists who were trapped. Nine people were sent to hospital with minor injuries from the landslide in Agassiz.
– We are ready to provide any kind of help needed, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted on Monday.
In the town of Abbotsford, just east of Vancouver, residents of more than 100 homes were ordered evacuated due to the risk of flooding and landslides.
According to the country’s authorities, up to 250 millimeters of rain was expected on Monday in and around Vancouver – as much as the region usually receives in one month. Last week, a tornado was observed just outside the Vancouver airport, and this summer, record highs were measured in British Columbia where more than 500 people died and a city was destroyed by forest fires.
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