Overflowing sewers, submerged RV, runaway barge: B.C. storm in pictures
Posted Nov 15, 2021 4:04 pm.
Mudslides and flooding across southern B.C. has led to the closure of several major highways, the evacuation of an entire city, local state of emergencies, and evacuation alerts.
An evacuation order has been issued for the entire city of Merritt, as floodwaters have inundated two of the bridges in the area and prevented access to a third.
WATCH: Flooding in the City of Merritt
The deluge has also led to the failure of the city’s wastewater treatment plant. People in that city were not able to flush toilets or run faucets without the water backing up.
Related article: Locals coming to rescue of those stranded by B.C. storm
As of Monday, no injuries have been reported due to the storm.
The downpour has tested local sewers, with video footage showing water shooting straight up into the air on Angus Street in Vancouver.
WATCH: Water shoots from sewer in Vancouver (Credit: Tricia Barker)
In Coquitlam, it appears the sewer system also became overwhelmed.
A photo shows a manhole at Jefferson and North Road with sewage surging out of it. Toilet paper and sanitary products were overflowing with the sewage water.
(Courtesy: George Kovacic)
The Coquihalla Highway was closed Sunday due to mud slides and flooding. The route remained closed into Monday.
An RV was washed away near the Sowaqua Creek Exit on the Coquihalla Sunday night.
The owners reportedly had to abandon the vehicle and chain it to a tree.
WATCH: RV under water off Coquihalla Highway (Credit: Jeremiah Steberl)
Water rushed onto the Coquihalla Highway on Sunday, leading to the closure of the route between Merritt and Hope.
The Coquihalla Highway was flooded at Portia on Nov. 14, 2021 (Courtesy: Twitter/@TranBC)
By Monday morning, the transportation ministry said the southbound lanes had been washed into the river.
WATCH: Coquihalla Highway wash out
Related articles:
On the Lougheed Highway (Hwy 7), landslides trapped hundreds of people, including at least 50 children, in their cars overnight between Hope and Agassiz. About 275 people remained stuck there Monday afternoon.
Watch: British Columbians stranded on Lougheed between Agassiz and Hope are rescued
We’re with you, British Columbia. pic.twitter.com/mr6obVdKc2
— Canadian Forces in ???????? (@CAFinUS) November 15, 2021
There was a scary moment in Vancouver’s English Bay, when an unmoored barge was seen moving quickly in choppy waters. There were fears the barge would hit the Burrard Bridge.
WATCH: Unmoored barge in rough waters off Vancouver
In Abbotsford, which is under a local state of emergency due to flooding, the backyard of a home was completely underwater.
WATCH: Flooding at a home in Abbotsford
In Vancouver, the strong winds blew a large canopy halfway down a driveway.
https://twitter.com/RussellSusan259/status/1460368931873427456
The storm brought winds strong enough to break and bring down a large tree onto a vehicle in Vancouver.
A tree came down in Vancouver on Nov. 15, 2021, damaging a car. (Raynaldo Suarez, CityNews)
Listen to CityNews 1130 for the very latest on the storm and sign up for notifications on our Apple and Android apps for breaking news. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
