Efforts underway to break up ice jams that flooded a Quebec City neighbourhood

Authorities warned Monday there could be more evacuations after weekend flooding forced residents out of about 40 homes in a Quebec city neighbourhood.

Heavy equipment had to be brought in to help break up ice jams on the St. Charles River which have been blamed for the flooding.

Backhoes are being used to reduce one major ice jam that is more than 100 metres long.

Michel Therrien, a Quebec civil protection spokesman, said people living in 30 other residences have been advised they may also need to evacuate their homes if water levels continue to rise.

But he added the evacuations may not be necessary.

“The flow of the river has gone down a lot which allows us to go to work and turn back the water so we can free up the streets and houses that have water in them,” he told reporters.

Therrien said a meeting was planned with evacuees Monday evening so they could get more information about returning home and making damage claims.

Temperature swings over the past few days have caused a lot of headaches for local residents.

Therrien said heavy precipitation Friday forced the river to rise before temperatures dropped Saturday.

The rising water encased several vehicles in ice when it froze.

Police also increased patrols to check on residences that had to be evacuated.