Meanwhile, searches continue for more possible victims, after police announced late Tuesday the recovery of a woman's body from a mudslide near Lillooet, 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of Vancouver. An estimated 300 motorists trapped on highways by mudslides have been airlifted to safety and a few of a dozen evacuation orders have been rescinded. The torrential rains had let up by Tuesday afternoon.
He pledged federal support, saying: "We'll be there for the cleanup and the rebuilding after the impacts of these extreme weather events." In Washington, ahead of a meeting with his US and Mexican counterparts, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the rains caused "historical and terrible flooding that has disrupted the lives and taken lives of people across B.C." "In response to extreme flooding across Southern BC, we have approved the deployment of air support personnel to assist with evacuation efforts, support supply chain routes, and protect residents against floods and landslides," Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said on Twitter.Ī spokesperson told AFP the military was still sorting out the details of the deployment.
OTTAWA - Canada is sending the military to help evacuate and support communities hit by "extreme flooding" after record rainfall on the Pacific coast, the government said Wednesday.ĭownpours in British Columbia this week trapped motorists in mudslides that left at least one dead and two missing, forced thousands to flee their homes, and cut off Vancouver and its port. This aerial handout image taken by the City of Abbotsford shows flooding on the Sumas Prairie, British Columbia, Canada