B.C. storm: Rescue crews search for any trapped motorists; evacuation order issued east of Abbotsford
Rescue crews, buoyed by a more favourable weather forecast, will begin combing areas near Agassiz on Tuesday, in search of trapped motorists after torrential rains caused flooding and mudslides in the southwest and central parts of British Columbia.
Working with the RCMP, the Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Task Force and local fire departments will try to identify any unaccounted-for motorists who may have been stranded by mudslides Sunday night. There have been no reported deaths so far.
Meanwhile, the threat from heavy rain continues. The Abbotsford Police Department on Tuesday morning issued an evacuation order for areas east of the city from Sumas Prairie to the Chilliwack border, citing rising water levels.
The search follows Monday's evacuation by helicopter of 275 people - including 50 children and 20 dogs - trapped between two landslides between Hope and Agassiz.
Dave Boone, director of the search-and-rescue task force, said his rescue crews made their way to the stranded motorists, created a landing zone and, working in tandem with three Canadian Forces Cormorant helicopters, managed to airlift out the last of those evacuees just after dark on Monday.
There were some very heavy winds and some very challenging conditions .... and the Cormorant pilots, I give them a lot of credit," Boone said.
Those evacuees were taken to a reception centre set up in Agassiz.
Further to the east, on Hwy. 7, highway crews were able to clear another mudslide, allowing the 500 people trapped behind it overnight to drive out east toward Hope.
Today we're going to get up to go back to the Agassiz area to assess the slide there," said Boone. We're concerned that there could be trapped vehicles, and we just want to do a final assessment as far as if there are any viable rescues or if there are any recoveries."
The mudslides rolled over the highway during an atmospheric river" that brought a deluge of rain and flooding to the southwest and central parts of the province and forced an evacuation order in the Interior town of Merritt on Monday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement posted on Twitter that the federal government is ready to help British Columbians affected by flooding and extreme weather.
To the people of Merritt, and to all British Columbians affected by the flooding: please stay safe," he said.
Historic conditions meant some areas saw an average amount of rain for November in under 48 hours, said Armel Castellan, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.
With files Steve McKinley and The Canadian Press