A clogged area of the Chilcotin River is shown in an Aug. 2, 2024, handout photo. Evacuation orders have been issued for residents close to an imposing landslide in British Columbia's Chilcotin River. Photo: Government of British Columbia.
Authorities in British Columbia have issued an evacuation order for an area just north of where the Chilcotin River meets the Fraser River because of the danger of flooding caused by a landslide.
In a news release Sunday night, officials with the Cariboo Regional District told residents to leave “immediately” and that people who choose to stay do so at their own risk. The evacuation order covers 3.5 square kilometres.
A massive landslide last week at Farwell Canyon located about 22 kilometres south of Williams Lake dammed the Chilcotin River and created a lake about 11 kilometres long behind the slide.
Sean Leslie, spokesman for the ministry of water, land and resource stewardship, said in a statement Monday that water trapped behind the natural dam has not yet reached the top, although levels rose overnight. Leslie said that the height of the trapped water is similar to what is witnessed during the spring thaw but is expected to move more quickly and with greater force.
Experts expect water will reach the top of the natural dam and start flowing into the riverbed in the next several hours, he added.
The Tsilhqot’in First Nation said in a social media post that as of Sunday morning the slide was holding back 61 million cubic meters of water, equalling “24,400 Olympic swimming pools.”
Some important developments on the Chilcotin slide.
We’re seeing the first images from moments ago of water getting through the slide.
We’ll be getting more detailed information in the coming hours. #bcpoli @BowinnMa pic.twitter.com/m5k8WTYmEz
— Nathan Cullen (@nathancullen) August 5, 2024
British Columbia’s Emergency Management Department said on Sunday that water was expected to start moving over the top of the massive landslide site within hours.
The department urged people to stay away from the Chilcotin and Fraser rivers because of the threat from the landslide.
The River Forecast Centre issued flood warnings for the Chilcotin River upstream and downstream of the landslide near Farwell Canyon.
A flood watch is in effect for the Fraser River from the Chilcotin River confluence downstream to Hope, B.C.
The department is scheduled to provide an update on the landslide later on Monday.
