More slides on highways, rescues underway, no confirmed deaths

B.C.’s public safety minister says the flooding and highway closures remain an evolving situation and further rain, high winds and possible snow are compounding the situation.

Mike Farnworth provided an afternoon update on the situation Monday, saying there has been more slides on highways: one near Lillooet that trapped about 50 vehicles and another near Haig, north of Hope, that he said trapped “many people” with efforts ongoing to rescue those people.

However, as of 4:00 p.m., Farnworth was not aware of any fatalities resulting.

As for the rescue efforts for people trapped by slides, Farnworth said “Everyone is working as hard and fast and as safely as they can to get people and vehicles out from the slide areas.”

The minister said Canadian Forces helicopters are rescuing up to 100 vehicles and 275 people trapped between slides on Highway 7 near Agassiz in the Fraser Valley.

Armel Castallan from Environment Canada said the upper levels of the Coquhalla Highway could get 20 centimetres of snow tonight as the freezing level lowers.

He also warned of localized “flash freezing” of rain as freezing levels drop, but added calmer weather is on the way for later this week.

Dave Campbell with River Forecast Centre said they’ve been seeing “historic and unprecedented stream flow” in the south west part of BC

Paula Cousins from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure in the Interior said the Coquihalla corridor had received 230 milmetres of rain since Saturday and while damage assessments are still underway, there was no estimated time of reopening.

BC Transportation had video on its Twitter site of the southbound lanes of the Coquihalla between Larson Hill and Juliet that had “been washed into the river” (see video above).

For the latest on road closures, check Drive BC.