Several dead in boat incident in Squamish area amid B.C. flooding

VANCOUVER — Police in Canada say several people died in a boat incident in the Squamish area of British Columbia, amid widespread flooding caused by heavy rain that has swept the country's west coast in recent days.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed deaths in the incident, which involved several people. Police did not disclose the final toll or the identities of the victims.

The tragedy comes as communities around the Squamish River face dangerously high water levels, with evacuation orders and warnings of flooding and landslides still in place.

Several dead in incident near the Squamish River

Insp. Robert Dextra of the RCMP said the incident happened on Thursday, Nov. 12, and involved several people.

He confirmed that it resulted in deaths and said some people were able to reach safety.

Police declined to give the number of dead or details of how the incident happened, citing the ongoing investigation.

The conditions in which the boat was operating are also unclear, as is whether those on board were trying to cross the river while the water was rising.

Authorities continue to gather information to determine the exact sequence of events amid difficult weather and water conditions in the area.

Helicopters and rescue teams deployed

Search and rescue teams in Squamish went to the area after reports of the incident, with helicopters and specialized volunteers taking part.

Members of North Shore Rescue were also involved. They were seen leaving their base on Thursday evening to help with the operations.

Emergency crews are facing challenges because of rising water and fast currents, as well as damage to roads leading to some areas.

Police have not said whether the search has ended completely, or whether others remain unaccounted for.

The incident is one of a series of events linked to the severe weather the province has experienced this week.

More than 300 mm of rain hits British Columbia

Parts of the province's south coast recorded exceptional amounts of rain after a succession of storms known as atmospheric rivers.

Port Mellon recorded about 307 mm of rain between Tuesday morning and Thursday noon.

The Kennedy Lake area on Vancouver Island recorded about 261 mm over the same period.

At Squamish airport, 135 mm of rain fell between Tuesday morning and Thursday noon.

The downpours caused rivers to rise and flooded roads and properties, prompting authorities to issue wide-ranging warnings to residents.

Evacuation orders and warnings for residents

Local authorities issued evacuation orders for parts of Pemberton, north of Vancouver, as well as areas belonging to the Lil'wat Nation.

The measures covered more than 50 properties in parts of Lil'wat territory, as well as properties near Airport Road in Pemberton.

Authorities also asked residents of other areas to stay in safe locations because of the risks posed by water-covered roads.

They warned that conditions could change quickly, with landslides or debris flows still possible.

Officials stressed that people must follow evacuation instructions and should not try to cross roads covered by water.

Woman rescued after water trapped her in her car

Another rescue took place in the Squamish area, after a woman became stranded in her car on Squamish Valley Road as water rose around the vehicle.

According to rescue teams, the woman was trapped for more than an hour while the water reached her waist.

A person near the scene heard her calls for help and helped her get out before rescue crews arrived.

Officials said the woman survived thanks to the quick intervention, and stressed the danger of driving through flooded areas.

Warnings of a new round of flooding

Although rainfall has eased in some areas, Environment and Climate Change Canada warned of the risk of rising sea levels driven by wind and waves.

The warnings cover low-lying areas on the Metro Vancouver coast, southeast Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands.

Authorities are also monitoring a new weather system approaching that could put more pressure on rivers over the weekend.

Officials say the priority is protecting residents and continuing rescue operations, while the region awaits the results of the investigation into the boat incident that killed several people.