"One Month's Rainfall at Once" Causes Casualties in Western Canada Floods

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] In western Canada, a month's worth of rain fell all at once from the 14th to the 15th, resulting in one death and three people missing.

According to AP News and others on the 17th (local time), "A phenomenon called an 'atmospheric river' appeared in western Canada, causing over 200mm of rain to pour down in two days," they reported.

An atmospheric river is a narrow, elongated layer of moist air in the atmosphere. It is believed that moisture from the Pacific Ocean was supplied to the land along this air layer, forming the heavy rain.

Due to the heavy rain, major roads were closed because of landslides, and railways and roads leading to Vancouver Port, the largest port in the region, were cut off, limiting access.

In lowlands and mountainous areas, a total of 17,775 residents have evacuated to avoid landslides and flooding.

Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of the death toll rising further.

In the lowland area of Abbotsford, bordering the United States, about 180 residents have been rescued, but around 300 more are still waiting for help.

In the mountainous village of Tulameen northeast of Vancouver, 400 people are isolated. Many have also lost electricity supply. A representative of the emergency committee in this area said, "They received food supplies dropped from helicopters."

In Hope, a village about 160 km from Vancouver, food supplies are running out, and about a quarter of the 6,000 residents have sought shelter.

John Horgan, the Premier of British Columbia, declared a state of emergency across the province that day. Premier Horgan said, "This is a disaster that occurs once every 500 years. It is a situation we have never experienced or even imagined before."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also described the situation as a "horrific and terrible disaster" and announced, "We will deploy air force personnel to assist in recovery efforts."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.