Artur Gajda, Rod Nickel

MERRITT in British Columbia (Reuters] – Canada’s biggest port, Vancouver, announced Tuesday that all rail access has been blocked by flooding and landslides to the east. The development could impact shipments of potash, coal, and grain.

The Globe and Mail reported that a mudslide caused cars to be swept off the road in Pemberton. This is about 100-miles (160 km) north of Vancouver. The accident claimed the lives of unspecified numbers of people.

It reported that “some fatalities were found,” citing David MacKenzie, local search and rescue manager.

Reuters reached MacKenzie, British Colombia Police but they did not respond immediately to our requests.

Two days of heavy rains in British Columbia’s Pacific province caused major flooding. The storm disrupted rail services. Canadian Pacific Canadian National Railway and Rail are by far the largest two rail companies in America.

Matti Polychronis, a port spokesperson said that all rail services to Vancouver are halted due to flooding in British Columbia’s interior.

According to her, floodwaters closed many roads, including the main ones leading to Vancouver. The provincial authorities will provide brief media coverage at 6:30 pm EST (2330 GMT).

Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, stated that his Liberal government is very worried about flooding and will provide all assistance it can.

Vancouver’s port receives cargo valued at C$550 Million ($440 Miillion) each day. This ranges from cars and finished products to necessities.

Canada is one of the largest grain exporters in the world and was temporarily halted by the floods.

Del Dosdall, senior export manager at grain handler Parrish & Heimbecker, said he expected some rail service could be running by the weekend, although another industry source said he expected the shutdown to last weeks.

EVACUATIONS & RESCUE MISSIONS

On Monday, over 150,000 Washington households were cut off by heavy rains. They also had to be evacuated from the area south of British Columbia. According to the National Weather Service, a flash flood was declared in Mount Vernon, Washington on Tuesday due to “the potential for a leakage of levees.”

Some parts of British Columbia got 8 inches (200 mm), of rain Sunday. This is the average amount of rainfall that falls within a month.

Merritt is 120 miles (200km) north of Vancouver. Authorities ordered that all citizens leave Monday because the river was rising quickly. However, many were trapped at their homes Tuesday, according to Greg Lowis, a city spokesperson.

The town was blanketed in snow on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the towns of Chilliwack & Abbotsford ordered partial evacuations.

Large mounds of trash that had clogged roads were removed by rescuers who used dogs and diggers.

Floods and landslides occur six months less after wildfires destroyed entire towns. The heat dome in Ontario saw record temperatures, which caused the provincial temperature to soar.

Trans Mountain, which connects Alberta and the Pacific Coast, was closed due to storms. It can hold 300,000 barrels of oil per day.