People trapped in cars as flooding, mudslides close most major B.C. highways
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Posted November 14, 2021 12:04 pm.
Last Updated November 17, 2021 11:13 am.
The heavy rain in Vancouver and parts of the South Coast has led to several problems and challenges, including making driving a nightmare along some major B.C. highways in and out of the region.
Most major highways out of Vancouver are now closed due to mudslides and flooding across the province. The Sea-to-Sky highway is the only out of town highway not closed by flooding and mudslides.
The BC River Forecast Centre issued a Flood Watch for the Fraser Valley and Fraser Canyon. A High Streamflow Advisory is in effect for Metro Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast, Howe Sound, and Sea-to-Sky.
Related Article: Entire city of Merritt being evacuated due to flooding
The District of Kent has declared a local State of Emergency due to flooding, and evacuation order have been issued for several properties.
The downpour has prompted the City of Abbotsford to declare a local state of emergency. An evacuation order has been issued for a handful of properties and several other homes are on evacuation alert.
Any evacuees due to flooding in the city can go to the Abbotsford Recreation Centre on McMillian Road for help.
Related Article: Abbotsford declares local state of emergency
There are closures on Highway 1 in the Fraser Valley, on the Coquihalla Highway, and also on Highway 11 heading to the Canada/U.S. border, as the weather wreaked havoc on the roads.
Highway 1 in the Fraser Valley
Highway 1 is closed in both directions at Bridal Falls due to flooding and mudslides in the area. Eastbound drivers are being detoured via Highway 9 and Lougheed.
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Mudslides closed Highway 1 between Bridal Falls and Hope. (Courtesy Twitter/@TranBC)
Video footage shows a car driving very slowly through a swampy, flooded road.
Mudslides also closed Highway 1 from Hope all the way to Spences Bridge.
Mudslides have now closed #BCHwy1 from #HopeBC all the way to Spences Bridge. https://t.co/Q7IjuglyxL pic.twitter.com/udz65KBCAv
— Kareem Gouda (@KareemsGouda) November 15, 2021
Holy crap! Did I mention how bad it is getting in the Valley? Hwy 1 at Bridal Falls where it is currently closed EB for a Mudslide… #bcstorm #shareyourweather @50ShadesofVan pic.twitter.com/7kCE4f4RfN
— Brad604 (@Brad604) November 14, 2021
Rescue underway of people trapped in cars on Lougheed Highway
There are reports six to eight people are trapped in their cars after a 100-square-metre stretch of Highway 7 was covered by mudslides between Hope and Agassiz.
Read more: Lougheed Highway shutdown due to mudslides
David Boone, the Assistant Chief of Operations for Canada Task Force 1 – the Heavy Urban Search and Rescue team – says a team of around 35 first responders from various organizations are heading overnight to Agassiz to assist. They are expected to make a rescue overnight after heading up from the Vancouver area.
Hundreds of cars are stuck between the mudslides, waiting for crews overnight.
Jen Alexander is from Prince George and says she got stuck while driving down towards the Lower Mainland for her daughter’s birthday.
“Just moving along and then all of a sudden we stopped, waited for quite a while and then I came out of Prince George. It’s my daughter’s 19th birthday on Tuesday so I was driving since 8am. She’s in Victoria so I was hoping to go down and spend a couple days with her.”
Alexander says she hopes to make it out of the interior at to the ferries sometime Monday.
Coquihalla Highway closed
Once you get around that problem, you won’t be able to take the Coquihalla Highway into the Interior. That route is closed both ways between Hope and Merritt because of another mudslide.
Video shared on social media shows water completely flooding the highway at between Box Canyon and Portia. In the video, shared by the B.C. Transportation Ministry, a man is heard calling the area a “disaster waiting to happen.”
A look at the #Coquihalla in the #BChwy5 Portia area. Crews are on site and engineers are assessing the risk and impact. Safety is our top priority.
Check @DriveBC for updates. pic.twitter.com/TjdHtkLEuP— BC Transportation (@TranBC) November 14, 2021
Photos taken by passengers in vehicles along the Coquihalla show the route flooded with muddy water.
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Hope-Princeton closed in both directions
Mudslides have now closed Highway 3 at Sunshine Valley roughly 17 km east of Hope. Drive BC has no estimated time of reopening.
UPDATE https://t.co/kF3sjYZy7a
— Kareem Gouda (@KareemsGouda) November 15, 2021
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Sumas border crossing reopens after overnight flooding
Sumas Way in Abbotsford was closed at 4th Avenue due to flooding, blocking access to the Sumas border crossing, but has since reopened.
CLEAR – #BCHwy11 is FULLY OPEN between #USA border & Vye Ave in #Abbotsford from previous flooding.
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) November 15, 2021
Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to BCstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports
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Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article indicated the Aldergrove border crossing closes at 8 p.m. It has been corrected to indicate it closes at midnight.