Mudslide toll rises to four

Three more bodies recovered at ravaged site

Senior government officials in British Columbia warned residents on Saturday to brace for another round of weekend rainstorms even as the death toll from floods triggered by the last round of extreme weather continued to rise.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said another “atmospheric river” is due to hit B.C.’s North Coast, with rain expected to move south on Sunday and Monday.

His cautions came hours after police announced the recovery of three more bodies in floodravaged southern B.C., bringing the overall tally to four since last weekend’s torrential rains triggered a series of mudslides across much of the province.

“What I’ve been advised by Environment Canada is they’re looking at 20 to 40 millimetres of rain,” Farnworth said of the latest weather systems while speaking at a news conference. “Normally that would not be an issue in terms of concern, but obviously given the current saturation we have seen in the ground we’re following that very closely”

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the North Coast, warning that flooding and landslides could occur because of the pending precipitation.

Farnworth said the national weather agency is working on a new system to rank atmospheric rivers, the weather phenomenon that led to the flooding that washed away roads, decimated agricultural operations and disrupted supply chains across much of the province.

“This will help all of us be better prepared for everything from localized flooding and winds to bigger storm events,” Farnworth said. “This new approach is based on a system the U.S. is already using.”

The RCMP, meanwhile, offered few details about the rising death toll.

The Mounties issued a statement on Saturday saying they recovered the bodies of three men from one particularly hard-hit area in the southern part of the province, though noted the discoveries took place earlier in the week.

Police said the men’s bodies were located in an area east of Agassiz along Highway 7 and a section of Highway 99, known as the Duffy Lake Road.

The discovery comes days after a woman’s body was recovered near the same area on Monday.

The search for a fifth person missing after the mudslides has been suspended, though that person is not currently counted among the dead.

“All current search efforts have been exhausted and discussions are underway as to how and when, best to proceed,” Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet said in a statement.

The B.C. Coroners Service issued a statement saying it would investigate the deaths and make recommendations, where possible, to prevent similar situations in the future.

A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-177 Globemaster, meanwhile, arrived at the airport in Abbotsford on Saturday afternoon, delivering three CH-146 Griffon helicopters from 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron to assist with flood rescue efforts.

The rising death toll comes as the region continues to work to stem the massive damage caused by the floods and ensuing mudslides.