More landslides and flooding to follow

Heavy rain is causing mudslides and flooding in Western Canada. Intense rain has destabilized slopes, triggering debris flows that travel down gullies, blocking highways, and creating massive flooding in parts of B.C.’s Interior and Okanagan, plus southern Alberta. Experts say more rain is in the forecast, so additional landslides and flooding can be expected to disrupt transportation routes and affect communities. SFU natural hazards expert John Clague says some damage can be expected from such events, but “we cannot design a transportation system, for example, that is 100 per cent safe from flooding – it would be too costly.”

John Clague, 778.782.4924, jclague@sfu.ca