British Columbia is on alert for flooding along the banks of the Chilcotin River after a landslide created a large natural dam and triggered evacuation orders in the remote region in Canada’s Pacific coast province, authorities said on Saturday.
B.C.’s Minister of Emergency Management Bowinn Ma in an update said that in the worst case scenario, flows in the Chilcotin river were expected to be well above peak spring levels, while it would likely be lower than normal freshet season along Fraser river.
“Ultimately, this is an encouraging development for communities downstream, but we nevertheless continue to coordinate closely with communities along the rivers to ensure that we’re prepared to protect people from potential flooding,” Ma said.
The region has been under watch since Wednesday after a landslide blocked the river in British Columbia’s Cariboo region, creating worries about potential flooding as the water could surge through.