Title: “Emergency Declared as Landslide Blocks River in British Columbia, Flash Floods Imminent”
In a dramatic turn of events, the Tŝilhqot’in National Government (TNG) has taken urgent action by declaring a local state of emergency after a landslide forcibly blocked the Chilcotin River in British Columbia’s Cariboo region.
The TNG made the unexpected announcement on a Thursday afternoon, revealing that a massive slide of soil and debris occurred upstream of Nagwentled—also known as Farwell Canyon—approximately 285 kilometers north of Vancouver. The landslide has completely obstructed the river, prompting fears of imminent flash floods that could strike within the next 24 to 48 hours.
At a virtual news conference, Cariboo Regional District chair Margo Wagner painted a grim picture of the situation, explaining how the accumulating flood above the landslide acts like a dam, creating a lake-like condition that poses a high risk of flash flooding downstream once breached.
Further adding to the concern, B.C. minister Nathan Cullen disclosed that the dam created by the landslide spans a whopping 600 meters wide and 30 meters deep. Despite efforts to monitor the situation, there are reports of water slowly seeping through the barrier.
With the B.C. River Forecast Centre issuing flood warnings for both the Chilcotin River and the Fraser River downstream, residents were advised to steer clear of the riverbanks and prep for potential evacuation orders that could affect numerous communities along the rivers.
The TNG have already issued evacuation mandates for at-risk areas, including a dozen homes in the Cariboo Regional District impacting 13 residents. Satellite images have captured the grim reality of the blocked river, with debris from a previous wildfire adding to the concerns.
As emergency crews work tirelessly on the ground and with aerial assistance, the province is bracing itself for potential flooding risks. B.C. Emergency Preparedness and Climate Change Minister Bowinn Ma emphasized the importance of readiness, with evacuation orders limited currently but an evacuation center already established in Williams Lake for those in need.
Despite the ongoing challenges posed by the landslide and subsequent flooding threats, authorities remain vigilant in ensuring the safety of residents, wildlife, and river ecosystems. The lingering effects of a forest fire in 2017 have only exacerbated the vulnerability of the region to such natural disasters.
While one man has been successfully rescued from the impacted area, the threat of further danger looms as emergency services continue to monitor the situation closely.
In the face of
In a dramatic turn of events, the Tŝilhqot’in National Government (TNG) has taken urgent action by declaring a local state of emergency after a landslide forcibly blocked the Chilcotin River in British Columbia’s Cariboo region.
The TNG made the unexpected announcement on a Thursday afternoon, revealing that a massive slide of soil and debris occurred upstream of Nagwentled—also known as Farwell Canyon—approximately 285 kilometers north of Vancouver. The landslide has completely obstructed the river, prompting fears of imminent flash floods that could strike within the next 24 to 48 hours.
At a virtual news conference, Cariboo Regional District chair Margo Wagner painted a grim picture of the situation, explaining how the accumulating flood above the landslide acts like a dam, creating a lake-like condition that poses a high risk of flash flooding downstream once breached.
Further adding to the concern, B.C. minister Nathan Cullen disclosed that the dam created by the landslide spans a whopping 600 meters wide and 30 meters deep. Despite efforts to monitor the situation, there are reports of water slowly seeping through the barrier.
With the B.C. River Forecast Centre issuing flood warnings for both the Chilcotin River and the Fraser River downstream, residents were advised to steer clear of the riverbanks and prep for potential evacuation orders that could affect numerous communities along the rivers.
The TNG have already issued evacuation mandates for at-risk areas, including a dozen homes in the Cariboo Regional District impacting 13 residents. Satellite images have captured the grim reality of the blocked river, with debris from a previous wildfire adding to the concerns.
As emergency crews work tirelessly on the ground and with aerial assistance, the province is bracing itself for potential flooding risks. B.C. Emergency Preparedness and Climate Change Minister Bowinn Ma emphasized the importance of readiness, with evacuation orders limited currently but an evacuation center already established in Williams Lake for those in need.
Despite the ongoing challenges posed by the landslide and subsequent flooding threats, authorities remain vigilant in ensuring the safety of residents, wildlife, and river ecosystems. The lingering effects of a forest fire in 2017 have only exacerbated the vulnerability of the region to such natural disasters.
While one man has been successfully rescued from the impacted area, the threat of further danger looms as emergency services continue to monitor the situation closely.
In the face of
