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Central Calgary evacuated as flood threatens city | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Authorities have ordered the evacuation of central Calgary as flooding has left swathes of the city underwater. | |
Torrential rain and floodwaters have washed away roads and bridges around Alberta's largest city and have caused landslides elsewhere in the province. | Torrential rain and floodwaters have washed away roads and bridges around Alberta's largest city and have caused landslides elsewhere in the province. |
Both rivers that flow through Calgary, the Bow and Elbow, have flooded. | Both rivers that flow through Calgary, the Bow and Elbow, have flooded. |
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to tour flood-damaged areas later on Friday and has promised federal assistance. | Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to tour flood-damaged areas later on Friday and has promised federal assistance. |
The Elbow crested near the city on Friday but Alberta Premier Alison Redford warned residents should be prepared for more flooding downstream. | |
Communities further south were under total evacuation orders. Roughly half the homes in the town of High River were flooded. | |
Swept away | Swept away |
While an estimated 230,000 people live and work in central Calgary, officials believed there would be few people to evacuate because many did not come to work on Friday. | |
Some 25 neighbourhoods in Calgary, a city of one million, had already been evacuated. An estimated 75,000 residents have been ordered out of their homes. | |
The floods come after a rainy week in Alberta, capped by 4in (10cm) of downpour on Thursday. | The floods come after a rainy week in Alberta, capped by 4in (10cm) of downpour on Thursday. |
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. | 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 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. |
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. | 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. |
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said about 1,500 people went to emergency shelters while the rest were staying with family or friends. | Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said about 1,500 people went to emergency shelters while the rest were staying with family or friends. |
Daniel Kilgallon, who is staying with his relatives after evacuating his flat, told the BBC: "The city has stopped functioning. Nobody can remember a flood like this ever happening here." | |
'An ocean' | 'An ocean' |
Mr Nenshi warned that although the Elbow had crested, the city was not yet out of danger. | 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. | 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 to the city centre. Public transit there 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. Two zebras and two pigs have already been moved to a conservation centre. | |
The Saddledome, home to Calgary's professional hockey team, is also flooded with water levels rising to the stadium's 10th row. | The Saddledome, home to Calgary's professional hockey team, is also flooded with water levels rising to the stadium's 10th row. |
Calgary resident Marshall Strong told the BBC several of his family members' homes were flooded. | Calgary resident Marshall Strong told the BBC several of his family members' homes were flooded. |
"One farm that we went to had 60 cattle drowned in the fields," he said. | |
"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." | "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 have been reported, although one woman swept away in a mobile home is still missing. | No deaths have been reported, although one woman swept away in a mobile home is still missing. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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