A mudslide in Coquitlam knocks out power for 5,000; heavy rain, flood watches, and evacuation orders impact B.C.’s South Coast and Central Coast.
Mudslide Strikes Coquitlam, Power Disrupted for Thousands
Early Thursday morning, Coquitlam woke up to chaos as a mudslide slammed the 1900 block of Pipeline Road, leaving around 5,000 residents without electricity. The incident occurred north of Upper Coquitlam River Park, just before 5:45 a.m. PT, prompting an immediate emergency response from local authorities.
Coquitlam Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Young confirmed that four homes and two industrial properties were affected. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported so far. B.C. Hydro reported that power lines were downed by the slide, though most service had been restored by mid-morning, leaving only about 20 customers still without electricity.
Authorities are urging residents to avoid the area while search-and-rescue operations continue. Coquitlam Search and Rescue successfully evacuated eight people, two dogs, and a cat from the mudslide zone.
Transit Disruptions as Rain Pummels the Tri-Cities
The heavy rainfall has also caused ripple effects across regional transit. West Coast Express service was temporarily halted Thursday afternoon due to track issues at Maple Ridge’s Port Haney station. Commuters were advised to take the SkyTrain to Coquitlam Central, with buses covering the remaining route to the Fraser Valley.
TransLink later confirmed that on Friday morning, trains would not operate east of Maple Meadows station. Instead, a bus bridge would transport passengers from Mission and Port Haney to Maple Meadows, ensuring continuity of service despite the storm’s impact.
South Coast Braces for Peak Rainfall
This week’s wet weather is far from over. Environment Canada warns that the heaviest rainfall from the ongoing atmospheric river event will hit Thursday night into Friday morning. Areas across Metro Vancouver, the Sea-to-Sky region, and western Vancouver Island can expect intense downpours.
Residents should prepare for flooding in low-lying areas and roads, especially where rain mixes with melting snow. Landslides are possible on steep slopes, deforested zones, and locations recently affected by wildfires. Parts of Metro Vancouver could see up to 130 mm of rain, while the Sea-to-Sky corridor may experience 75 mm. Meanwhile, western Vancouver Island and the Fraser Valley could get up to 120 mm of rainfall by Friday.
Evacuations Issued Amid Rising Flood Risks
In response to rising waters, two evacuation orders affecting roughly 40 properties have been issued in the Chilliwack area. Residents in the Wilson Road and Sheldon Road zones are being urged to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
Meanwhile, on B.C.’s Central Coast, the hamlet of Ocean Falls received a new evacuation order after heavy rains heightened the risk of landslides. Nearby Martin Valley remains under an evacuation order, with additional alerts in effect for surrounding areas. Evacuees can seek assistance at the Old Bank Inn in Ocean Falls.
Amber Minch, corporate officer for the Ocean Falls Improvement District, noted that the tight-knit community has been rallying to sandbag homes and support vulnerable residents, including seniors and families with children. However, with windows broken and debris scattered, uncertainty looms over the next steps for these landslide-prone communities.
What Residents Should Know
Environment Canada advises residents across affected regions to monitor updates, avoid flooded areas, and prepare for potential landslides. The heaviest rain is expected to ease midday Friday as a cold front moves through, but authorities stress that safety precautions remain critical until the storm fully passes.
