Size of B.C. landslide doubled, nation chief says

The main of Williams Lake First Nation says a landslide of debris that has dammed nan Chilcotin River successful British Columbia’s cardinal Interior has astir doubled successful size since Wednesday.

Chief Willie Sellars, who toured nan descent tract by chopper Wednesday and Thursday, says nan h2o is continuing to build connected 1 broadside of nan dam, while nan different had “completely dried up” for astir 2 kilometres.

Officials person said nan h2o collecting down nan descent southbound of nan metropolis of Williams Lake could scope a level wherever it will commencement flowing complete nan debris, aliases it will erode nan material, mounting disconnected a release.

They person estimated a merchandise could travel Friday aliases Saturday, and could group disconnected dozens of removal orders and alerts downstream.

Evacuation orders span 107 quadrate kilometres on nan Chilcotin, and officials saying nan descent poses an “immediate threat to life and safety.”

The adjacent Tsilhqot’in National Government has declared a authorities of section emergency and warned group to enactment distant from nan river.

The authorities of nan stream besides has Interior Health relocated 21 patients retired of a infirmary and semipermanent attraction location successful Lillooet to alternate areas.

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Sellars says his organization is astir 45 minutes distant from nan slide, truthful an removal of nan organization apt won’t beryllium necessary.

However, he says nan region is of “massive taste significance” to First Nation communities successful nan region, noting nan descent will besides impact navigation channels for salmon.

“(There’s) a batch of history, erstwhile colony sites, funeral grounds, and we request to make judge that we’re doing everything we tin to archive and protect those,” he says.

Sellars says “it’s difficult to picture successful words really monolithic this descent is, and really devastating it is,” adding he hasn’t received updated projections yet connected erstwhile nan reservoir whitethorn break.

“We want to get much accusation retired and you know, our squad is connected it, and moving collaboratively pinch nan (Cariboo Regional District), nan state and nan national authorities and I’m emotion very assured that we’re going to person that accusation soon.”

This study by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 2, 2024.