On Tuesday, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth revealed that the drivers and passengers of about 100 vehicles trapped between two landslides in the eastern part of Agassiz, BC, have already been airlifted to safety.
Farnworth related that a Canadian Armed Forces helicopter was used to free the trapped travellers on November 15 who were forced to spend the night in their vehicles on Sunday when the record-breaking “atmospheric river” hit southern BC, which led to many mudslides and rockslides.
Moreover, the Public Safety Minister disclosed that the airlifted drivers and passengers had to leave their vehicles behind during the rescue mission. Farnworth added that the rescuers brought them to Agassiz. Tuesday’s press conference also disclosed that emergency vehicles can now pass through Highway 7 after being cleared of debris but remains closed to the general public.
On a related note, a similar mudslide in Lillooet, BC, also trapped several drivers and passengers on Monday, which resulted in the death of a Lower Mainland woman. Two others are reported as missing in the same incident. Rescue operations are still being conducted in the said area.
