State of Emergency Declared In Nova Scotia Following A Severe Flooding, Authorities Search For Missing People

Torrential rains have caused a severe flood across the Atlantic Canadian province of Nova Scotia, prompting the government to declare a province-wide state of emergency.

According to CBC News, the rain occurred from Liverpool in Queens County on the South Shore, through Lunenburg County, then through northwest Halifax County and into Hants County.

As of Sunday, initial data shows that the total rainfall in the area ranged from 100 to 250 millimeters.

The Department of Public Works reported several rivers and streams overflowing and multiple roads being washed out.

"We got three months' worth of rain in less than 24 hours," Premier Tim Houston said, as quoted by CNN. "It came fast and it came furious."

The state of emergency will remain in effect until August 5, unless terminated or extended by officials.

The devastating floods were the latest natural disaster to hit Canada this year, with wildfires already scorching a number of hectares and casting clouds of smoke across the United States.

Read Also: British Columbia, Canada is Threatened by Increasing Flood Risk: Hydrologists and Meteorologists on High Alert

Damage infrastructure

Houston said the property damage in the province is pretty unimaginable and seeks support from the federal government.

"We have approximately 25 bridges impacted across the province, 19 have been damaged, investigations continue on that but six - six - of those bridges were just completely destroyed," he added.

A temporary bridge will also be constructed Sunday night so that the almost 400 people who have been stranded at a motocross track in East Hans can return to their destinations.

An estimated 500 to 600 people were displaced, while more than 80,000 were without power.

Mayor Mike Savage of the Halifax Regional Municipality said that officials are advising citizens to remain off the roads and to avoid the water, which is "full of contaminants."

He added that the people are now working to repair infrastructure damages and advised citizens to be patient as the water level will take time to return to normal.

In a tweet Saturday afternoon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered assistance to Nova Scotia residents, saying the federal government is ready to provide additional resources that are needed.

The Guardian said CBC meteorologist Ryan Snoddon reported that the rainfall in Halifax was the worst since a storm slammed the city in 1971.

People missing

Canadian police are still looking for four people reportedly missing after their vehicle was submerged in the flood.

Authorities said two children were trapped inside a car during the heavy rain, while three other people in the same car managed to escape.

A man and a teenager were also missing, while two people from the same group were rescued from the car.

"Last evening, the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team conducted an underwater search of a flooded field and located an unoccupied pick-up truck believed to have been the vehicle that the children were traveling in," the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement, as quoted by CNN. "Search efforts continue in the same area for the four people and the second vehicle."

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