220 homes near Quebec City evacuated as heavy rain leads to flooding and landslides
MONTREAL — Officials have ordered the evacuation of 220 homes in Ste-Brigitte-de-Laval, Que., near Quebec City, over fears that rising water levels will lead to flooding.
City manager Marc Proulx says 70 millimeters of rain fell north of the city in a few hours and the water level of a local river is rising rapidly.
He says flooding is expected to begin within hours and that evacuation has been ordered to ensure residents can safely leave.
Joshua Ménard-Suarez, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety, says several parts of southern and central Quebec are being monitored for possible flooding and landslides.
Ménard-Suarez says officials are particularly concerned about the Charlevoix region, northeast of Quebec City, as well as the Eastern Townships, east of Montreal.
Environment Canada predicts between 80 millimeters and 120 millimeters of rain will fall in those areas by the end of the day on Tuesday.
He says people should inform municipal officials if rainfall leads to changes in sloping land, as that is a sign of an impending landslide.
“The precipitation that falls on waterways, we see the water level rise in real time, but landslides are more treacherous, sometimes enough water falls to hit the ground so it becomes susceptible to a landslide that eventually happens a few days later,” Menard said -Suarez.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 10, 2023.
