The Nunavut flag flies in Iqaluit. Photo: APTN file
A gasoline spill in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut Monday prompted what some officials characterized as an evacuation, although the territory’s government says no evacuation was ordered.
Videos and photos shared on social media showed residents leaving the Inuit community of about 1,000 by foot, all-terrain vehicle or packed into the back of pickup trucks.
The Nunavut government said later it did not issue any form of evacuation notice regarding the leak of an estimated 5,000 litres of fuel caused by a tank overfill.
People were allowed to return to the community and advised to stay away from the tank farm that contains the gasoline.
The Department of Community and Government Services says the risk to the Inuit community is minimal and no fumes were detected beyond the facility’s containment area.
Nunavut MP Lori Idlout said on Facebook she hoped “the gas leak they experienced forcing them to evacuate” was addressed safely.
A First Nation in northern Quebec that had been prepared to take in evacuees said it did not receive any flights from Sanikiluaq.
“We are happy to announce that the evacuation of Sanikiluaq has been cancelled and that no flights were made into Whapmagoostui/Kuujjuaraapik,” Whapmagoostui First Nation wrote on Facebook.
“As far as we know, an assessment has deemed it safe for the members to enter back into their community after a fuel spill that occurred today.”
Nunavut officials say an environmental firm is in Sanikiluaq to investigate and help with remediation efforts.
-With files by Kathleen Martens
