A state of local emergency (SOLE) has been declared by the City of Campbell River, as it continues to deal with the aftermath of landslides that have forced the evacuation of some people from their homes.
According to a release Thursday night, a temporary evacuation order has been put in place for a condominium complex at 738 Island Highway South, the location of where the landslide occurred Tuesday night.
The evacuation order will be reviewed Friday, Jan. 20.
An evacuation alert is also in place for surrounding properties, including another condo development at 758 Island Highway South.
The city says declaring the SOLE gives it the authority to evacuate people leave their homes on short notice to enter the area that is impacted.
The release says investigations into the landslide have “highlighted matters in need of further investigation that may pose risks to the surrounding area.”
Acting City Manager Drew Hadfield says the city recognizes the difficulty of a prolonged evacuation for residents.
“Our top priority is public safety, and while we are working diligently to get people home as soon as possible, we must first ensure that it is safe to do so,” Hadfield stated in the release.
“By declaring a State of Local Emergency we can make sure the City has the access and abilities it needs to do this necessary work and make sure the area is safe for residents to return.”
“We recognize that a prolonged evacuation is difficult and that residents will be eager to get back into their homes,” says Hadfield.
Hadfield says in a release that their top priority is public safety and staff are working diligently to get people home as soon as possible.
No one was hurt from the landslides, a ground-level covered parking area behind one of the condo buildings was destroyed by the mud and debris.
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