After a landslide cut off the only road to the northeastern BC area of Old Fort, officials have ordered the entire community to evacuate.
According to a statement, the Peace River Regional District issued the order due to an “immediate danger to life” posed by the slow-moving landslide that occurred just a kilometre away from the main part of the community.
The district said that not only did the landslide wipe out the only road leading to and out of Old Fort, but it also seems to have caused some instability in the part of the hill directly behind the homes of locals as it slowly shifts.
Locals have told CBC News that power to their homes has been switching on and off as crews attempt to restore power amidst the shifting slide.
Due to the road being cut off, residents are being ferried out of Old Fort through boat taxis and buses.
The district has warned residents not to return home until the evacuation order has been rescinded.
While some locals have elected to stay behind to look after their properties, officials have advised against such decisions.
“We have an engineering geologist who has looked at the site and cannot guarantee life safety,” Peace River Regional District emergency operation centre director Deborah Jones-Middleton told CBC News.
