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| Canada floods: Three killed as waters threaten Calgary | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| At least three people have been killed and more than a 100,000 forced to flee their homes as floods triggered by torrential rain hit western Canada. | |
| Officials have ordered the evacuation of the centre of Calgary, Alberta, after both rivers that flow through it, the Bow and Elbow, overflowed. | |
| The floods have washed away roads and bridges, cut-off electricity and submerged hundreds of homes. | |
| Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper toured flood-damaged areas on Friday. | |
| He has promised federal assistance for those affected. | |
| Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sgt Patricia Neely confirmed that three people were dead and two bodies had been recovered. | |
| She said the bodies recovered are of two men found in the Highwood River near High River, about 40 miles (64km) south of Calgary, on Thursday. | |
| "This is incredible," said Mr Harper, a Calgary resident. "I don't think any of us have seen anything like this before. The magnitude is just extraordinary." | "This is incredible," said Mr Harper, a Calgary resident. "I don't think any of us have seen anything like this before. The magnitude is just extraordinary." |
| Alberta Premier Alison Redford warned residents should be prepared for more flooding downstream. | 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 High River were flooded. | Communities further south were under total evacuation orders. Roughly half the homes in 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. | 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. | 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." | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." |
| 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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