Severe rainfall in British Columbia led to a mudslide in Coquitlam on Thursday, resulting in the evacuation of eight individuals and the issuance of two evacuation alerts in the Fraser Valley.
The alerts were announced on Thursday afternoon, encompassing approximately 30 properties in two locations along the Chilliwack River, situated southeast of Chilliwack.
The Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) instructed residents in these areas to remain prepared for immediate evacuation, citing the potential threat to life and safety due to intense river flows caused by an atmospheric river event.
Furthermore, a state of local emergency was declared for the Chilliwack River Valley in Electoral Area E.
Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for the Fraser Valley, highlighting the likelihood of flooding due to prolonged heavy rain on snow-covered areas.
The recent atmospheric river impacting British Columbia has led to flooding and evacuations in Ocean Falls and Martin Valley on the Central Coast, as well as a mudslide in Coquitlam, a suburb of Vancouver.
Airlift Rescue Operation from Mudslide
Due to the mudslide at the 1900 block of Pipeline Road near the Coquitlam River, Jamie Anderson and seven others were airlifted from their residences on Thursday.
Anderson recounted waking up to a “thud” around 5:30 a.m. PT, followed by a power outage, suspecting a minor earthquake.
Later, when attempting to leave, Anderson and her husband faced impassable roads due to extensive damage from fallen trees and power lines, necessitating their evacuation via helicopter.
A total of eight individuals, including Anderson and her husband, had to be airlifted by search and rescue teams, with the rescue involving suspending them from a helicopter over the debris-laden area.
Regarding the aftermath, Anderson mentioned that her in-laws’ home next door was buried under two feet of mud.
Coquitlam Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Young confirmed that four residences and two industrial buildings were impacted, with no injuries reported.
Flood Risk on South Coast
The River Forecast Centre for British Columbia has issued a flood watch for the South Coast region, indicating increasing river levels and the potential for flooding in adjacent areas.
The centre anticipates rapid rises in numerous rivers due to the ongoing storm and saturated soil, heightening the flood risk.
The <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/BC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#BC</a> River Forecast Centre has issued a High Streamflow Advisory for the Boundary Region, West & East Kootenays & parts of the Upper Columbia, incl lower elevation & valley bottom tributaries. Stay clear of these fast-flowing rivers & potentially unstable riverbanks. More… <a href=”https://t.co/VpIqzB5W