Straight Talk

Mudslides and heavy rains wreak havoc on B.C. communities from Vancouver Island to the Interior

by Charlie Smith on November 16th, 2021 at 6:10 AM
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      This morning, more than 7,000 residents of the B.C. city of Merritt remain under an evacuation order as a result of a major flood.

      The Coldwater River overflowed its banks, knocking out a wastewater treatment plant in the community.

      Meanwhile, the City of Abbotsford has issued a state of local emergency following the weekend's heavy rainfall.

      Mudslides have shut down major highways linking Metro Vancouver with the B.C. Interior.

      Heavy rains have also led to washouts on roads on Vancouver Island.

      Highway 1 is closed from Abbotsford Sumas Way to Hope and from Hope to Spences Bridge.

      Highway 3 is closed 17 kilometres east of Hope.

      Highway 5, a.k.a. the Coquihalla, is closed from Hope to Merritt.

      Highway 99 is shut down between Pemberton and Lillooet. 

      Highway 8 is closed between Merritt and Spences Bridge. And Highway 12 is closed south and north of Lillooet.

      Compounding the difficulties is a snowfall warning for the Coquihalla Highway this morning, with up to five centimetres expected before noon, according to Environment Canada.

      The heavy rain, wind, flooding, and mudslides have also led to power outages in many part of B.C.

      Vancouver wasn't immune from all the problems. A barge appeared to have been cast adrift in English Bay as a result of the storm.

      There has been some good news in the midst of all of the chaos.

      All 275 occupants of vehicles have been evacuated after being stuck in their vehicles overnight on November 13 and 15 due to mudslides near Aggassiz.

      City News reporter Tarnjit Kaur Parmar has reported that the owners of Hope Pizza Place fed people who were stuck in their cars, refusing to accept any payment.

       

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