Evacuation alerts issued near Pemberton and near Merritt as storm batters B.C.
Authorities in some parts of B.C. already struggling with flooding and landslides issued new evacuation alerts on Saturday as the second of three successive atmospheric rivers brought heavy rain to the province.
In the Interior, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued evacuation alerts for low-lying areas in electoral areas I, M and N, which surround the flood-ravaged city of Merritt.
"Based on the current weather outlook and modelling from the (B.C.) River Forecast Centre, heavy rainfall in the Southern Interior poses a potential threat to people and property in the Coldwater and Lower Nicola watersheds," the district said in a statement.
Forty-nine properties in the affected areas were already on evacuation orders, according to the regional district. Those orders remain in place.
Elsewhere, several low-lying properties near Pemberton were also placed on evacuation alert Saturday.
The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District issued the alert for 18 addresses located along and around Highway 99 near Pemberton.
"There is potential for the current high water levels observed in the Arn Canal to elevate further before this weather system passes," the district said when announcing the alerts.
Residents of areas under evacuation alert should be prepared to leave their homes at a moment's notice.
Detailed maps of the areas affected by evacuation alerts issued Saturday can be found on the Sqaumish-Lillooet and Thompson-Nicola regional district websites.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.