Thousands of people are left stranded in western Canada as a result of major floods

About 18,000 people remain stationary flood water In the western province of Canada, then mudslides it has destroyed roads, houses, bridges and other major infrastructure when it could be the most costly natural disaster in the country.

The flooding on Thursday was helping rescue workers, but it was raining he blocked the whole town It cut off access to the province of British Columbia (BC) and Canada’s largest port in Vancouver, disrupting already tightened global supply chains.

The flood comes in a few months they ruined large forest fires Several communities in BC brought a record temperature “heat dome” to the province this summer.

These fires may have left hills devoid of vegetation, caused by floods and mudslides, while experts have warned. climate crisis the weather events are becoming more extreme and more frequent.

Bill Blair, Canada’s emergency preparedness minister, said Thursday that the federal government will help BC rebuild and restore critical infrastructure in flood-affected communities.

“I know there is a lot of uncertainty and anxiety left in this difficult time,” Blair told reporters Thursday evening.

“But I want to assure everyone in Canada, and especially the people of British Columbia, that we will be able to provide support, relief and cooperation with all levels of government to ensure that they are supported and essential. The services they require.”

Al Jazeera’s Shihab Rattansi, from Abbotsford, was hit hard by the flood from a town about 70 kilometers (43 miles) east of Vancouver, however, he said there remains some uncertainty.

“The recession of water does not mean that roads and bridges and highways are safe,” Rattansi reported. “Because of the amount of water that has gone crazy — two days of rain a month, Sunday and Monday — and most of it is still under water. Economic activity in this area is badly affected. ”

Earlier, BC Premier John Horgan, who declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, he said the death toll from the floods, which is now one, is likely to rise.

Abbotsford officials expressed concern that the water would flood the local pumping station and force all 160,000 residents to evacuate.

“It’s the worst flood I’ve ever seen,” neighbor Steve Gosselin told AFP news agency.

Hundreds of people were evacuated from Sumas Beach at night when a pumping station was in danger of being flooded by a flood of water carried north of the Nooksack River in the United States, Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun said.

Braun said on Thursday that there had been no change in the state of the pumping station and that the water was flowing “fairly well (rate)” in some areas, but warned that the crisis is far from over.

“We are continuing towards the recovery phase of this emergency,” he said in a speech, noting that more rain was forecast for next week.

“We are not yet out of this,” Braun said, adding that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and many provincial ministers had promised to help him. “I take them all with the word. But at the end of the day, I also prepared them for a big bill, ”he added, estimating that it would cost $ 792 million to repair the damage.

This suggests that the final costs associated with the BC floods would exceed more than $ 285 million related to the fires that struck Alberta’s oil-producing region. Fort McMurray in May 2016.

“It’s easily the most expensive natural disaster in Canadian history. It won’t even be close,” tweeted Blake Shaffer, a professor of economics at the University of Calgary, who specializes in climate policy.

On 18 November, a clearing of a previously overcrowded area is seen around Whatcom Road in Abbotsford (British Columbia). [Philip McLachlan/AFP]

Interruptions in Vancouver port operations will exacerbate supply chain problems and make it harder to find Christmas trees, farmers said.

Lana Popham, BC’s agriculture minister, also said thousands of animals on the farm had been killed and many others were in “difficult conditions”, trapped and suffering from food and drinking water shortages.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Canadian Army joined the rescue efforts, deploying a Hercules transport plane, several search helicopters and hundreds of soldiers deployed to the region, and thousands more were put on hold.

Their activities will include “assisting with evacuations, transporting emergency response personnel and equipment, and exploring the area,” said military spokesman Alex Roy.

From Sunday to Monday, more than 1,000 passengers were stranded by mudslides, rocks and debris in the town of Hope, about 150 kilometers (90 miles) east of Vancouver.

On the other hand, near Lillooet, 250 miles (155 miles) northeast of Vancouver, after recovering the body of a woman, they continue to search for more victims. Federal police say at least four people are still missing in the mud.