2 missing, hundreds forced to evacuate after landslide in Rivière-Éternité, Que.
Two people are missing and nearly 200 people have been forced to leave their homes in the town of Rivière-Éternité, Que., about 260 kilometres northeast of Quebec City, after a landslide Saturday.
About a hundred campers in a nearby provincial park also had to leave on Sunday afternoon using two helicopters.
Three emergency accommodation centres have been opened in the communities of L'Anse-Saint-Jean and Saint-Félix-d'Otis and the borough of La Baie in Saguenay to accommodate the people coming in.
Rivière-Éternité declared a state of emergency Saturday. Environment Canada estimates that 75 to 100 millimetres of rain fell at the time.
Intense downpour caused a landslide around 1:30 p.m. on Notre-Dame Street, which leads to the Fjord-du-Saguenay National Park.
A tornado warning had also been issued for the Fjord-du-Saguenay sector.
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The water supply for part of Principale Street has been suspended.
Sûreté du Québec Sgt. Hugues Beaulieu said Saturday evening the missing people were trying to clear the road of debris left by the storm.
Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault tweeted Sunday that the ministry would send a geotechnical team to support the municipality and join crews that are repairing Road 170, which she said could require a few days.
Ambulances, firefighters and police are taking part in the search. The Sûreté du Québec helicopter also arrived on the scene Saturday evening.
One person was rescued yesterday and taken to hospital in critical condition.
The mayor of Rivière-Éternité, Rémi Gagné, said he feels for the affected families.
"Our hearts go out to the families of missing persons and to all our bereaved citizens. We have 48 adult citizens, six children and 133 Sépaq clients evacuated," Gagné said.
The storm caused widespread damage in the municipality, including piercing several sections of Route 170, which is now closed in both directions, Beaulieu added.
Firefighters, paramedics and police have joined the search. The Sûreté du Québec helicopter also arrived on the scene Saturday evening. (Alexis Desnoyers-Muckle/Radio-Canada)
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Earlier, authorities said three vehicles had been swept away, in the heart of the municipality, after a landslide took place on Route 170, which becomes Principale Street.
Two vehicles were found on the edge of the road. Authorities are trying to determine if a third vehicle in the area could have been swept away.
Shelter available in Saguenay
On Saturday, Andrée Laforest, the minister responsible for the region, asked some 400 citizens to leave the area and spend the night in neighbouring municipalities.
A shelter opened in Saguenay to accommodate citizens who leave Rivière-Éternité. The city said it had received a request from the Public Security Ministry to accommodate 250 people.
The location of the accommodation centre, the number of people expected and the time of their arrival are not yet known, the municipality said in a statement issued early Saturday evening.
Motorists from Saguenay travelling in the direction of the Saint-Siméon sector must take Route 381, toward Charlevoix.
Thumbnail image courtesy of Alexis Desnoyers-Muckle/Radio-Canada)
This article was originally published for CBC News.
