Evacuation orders affecting properties in Zeballos, B.C., are expected to remain in place through Friday as another round of heavy rain delays assessment of a landslide area, CBC News reports.

The orders cover 10 addressed properties on Pandora Crescent and Maquinna Avenue, along with several vacant lots in the village of about 125 people on northwest Vancouver Island. The Strathcona Regional District told CBC that landslide debris affected the area on Nov. 6.

Bonnie Logan, the regional district’s acting manager of emergency services, said the area had been without power for multiple days. Work to reduce the danger cannot begin until a geotechnical engineer has assessed the site.

“We can’t start doing any mitigation measures until that area has been thoroughly assessed by the geotechnical engineer,” Logan told CBC. “And unfortunately with these incoming storms, we just haven’t had a window of opportunity to do that.”

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued an orange rainfall warning for west Vancouver Island on Monday, forecasting 150 to 200 millimetres of rain beginning Tuesday morning. The heaviest rain is expected to ease by Wednesday morning, with moderate precipitation continuing until Thursday morning.

The warning indicates the potential for major or widespread impacts. The forecaster said localized flooding was likely and some roads could become impassable.

Logan said the road through Zeballos remained open, but stopping was not permitted and people should travel only as necessary.

The regional district said it would provide an update on evacuation orders and alerts on Friday, after the storm systems had passed. That update does not guarantee the orders will be lifted.

Sources