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West Canada flooding forces 100,000 to flee homes West Canada flooding forces 100,000 to flee homes
(about 7 hours later)
As many as 100,000 people have had to flee their homes in western Canada amid heavy flooding.As many as 100,000 people have had to flee their homes in western Canada amid heavy flooding.
Torrential rain and floodwaters have washed away roads and bridges and caused landslides in southern parts of the province of Alberta.Torrential rain and floodwaters have washed away roads and bridges and caused landslides in southern parts of the province of Alberta.
Communities around Calgary, Alberta's largest city, have been particularly badly hit, with a state of emergency declared in a large area to the south. Communities around Calgary, Alberta's largest city, have been particularly hard hit, with a state of emergency declared in a large area to the south.
Schools and businesses, as well as several major roads, have been closed.Schools and businesses, as well as several major roads, have been closed.
The mountain resorts of Banff and Canmore were left isolated after the Trans-Canada Highway was closed. The mountain resorts of Banff and Canmore were left isolated after the Trans-Canada Highway was closed. Roughly half the homes in the town of High River were flooded.
Helicopters and motor boats had to be used to rescue stranded homeowners. The Elbow River, one of two that flow through Calgary, crested earlier on Friday, but Alberta Premier Alison Redford warned residents should be prepared for more flooding downstream.
One resident of Canmore said he woke in the middle of the night to a "kind of rumbling" sound and realised it was the nearby creek. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to tour flood-damaged areas with Ms Redford later on Friday and has promised federal assistance.
Swept away
Military helicopters rescued about 30 people off rooftops in the Calgary area. At least 350 soldiers are being dispatched to the flood zone, according to the defence minister's office.
The floods come after a rainy week in Alberta, capped by 4in (10cm) of downpour on Thursday.
One resident of Canmore said he awoke in the middle of the night to a "kind of rumbling" sound and realised it was the nearby creek.
"At first it was just intense, pretty powerful, amazing thing to watch," Wade Graham told the Associated Press."At first it was just intense, pretty powerful, amazing thing to watch," Wade Graham told the Associated Press.
"As daylight came, it just got bigger and bigger and wider and wider, and it's still getting bigger and bigger and wider and wider.""As daylight came, it just got bigger and bigger and wider and wider, and it's still getting bigger and bigger and wider and wider."
"I watched a refrigerator go by. I watched a shed go by. I watched couches go by. It's insane," he added."I watched a refrigerator go by. I watched a shed go by. I watched couches go by. It's insane," he added.
Some 25 communities in and around Calgary which lie along the affected rivers have been evacuated. Some 25 neighbourhoods in Calgary, a city of one million, have been evacuated. An estimated 75,000 residents have been ordered out of their homes there.
The Calgary Herald reported on Friday that residents were waiting anxiously as the level of the Elbow river peaked. The Bow river is expected to peak later on Friday. Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said about 1,500 went to emergency shelters while the rest were staying with family or friends.
'An ocean'
Mr Nenshi warned that although the Elbow had crested, the city was not yet out of danger.
The Bow river, which Mr Nenshi said looked like "an ocean at the moment", is expected to remain at its current level for the next 12 hours.
Police have advised people against travelling downtown, public transportation has been shut, and schools are closed
Officials said lions and tigers from the Calgary Zoo may need to be transferred to prisoner holding cells at the downtown courthouse. The Saddledome, home to Calgary's professional hockey team, is also flooded.
Calgary resident Marshall Strong told the BBC several of his family members' homes were flooded.
"There's just so much going on, it's insane," he said. "One farm that we went to had 60 cattle drowned in the fields.
"It is truly unbelievable what has happened in such a short time. Calgary is a strong city and we have held it together better then we imagined."
No deaths and no injuries have been reported from the flooding so far.
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