Officials have a better idea of what flooding along the Chilcotin and Fraser rivers might look like after a landslide Wednesday.
The River Forecast Centre issued an update Friday, outlining the “worst-case scenario” predictions of how high river levels will rise all the way to Hope, B.C.
The centre says water bursting through the landslide could cause river levels downstream to rise extremely quickly along the Chilcotin and Fraser rivers.
In the release, officials say flows are expected to be far above peak spring levels along the Chilcotin River, but below spring levels along the Fraser River.
A flood warning remains in place for the Chilcotin River upstream of Farwell Canyon. A flood watch remains in place for the Chilcotin and Fraser rivers downstream until Hope.
Overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, a landslide happened on the Chilcotin River near Farwell Canyon, about 285 kilometres north of Vancouver. The landslide created a dam across the river, about 600 metres wide and 30 metres tall.
Since then, officials have warned the dam will fail. Debris, like fallen trees, and water have been building up behind the landslide for days.
On Friday, Bowinn Ma, B.C.’s Emergency Preparedness and Climate Change Minister said it’s most likely water will spill over the top of the dam, instead of bursting through.
Water and debris are likely to flow downstream into the Chilcotin and Fraser rivers.
B.C. residents, the provincial government and First Nations are bracing for a possible deluge of water after a massive landslide dammed the Chilcotin River in B.C.’s Cariboo region. Officials warn ‘impacts could be significant’ if the slide gives way.
Friday’s release outlines the River Forecast Centre’s preliminary modelling of a sudden dam failure. It is subject to change as the centre receives more information.
According to the River Forecast Centre, after about 90 minutes of a failure, water would reach the Farrell Canyon Bridge, flowing at about 21 times the typical flow rate during the spring. River levels are estimated to rise by 10 metres.
Around 29 hours after a sudden dam failure, the centre forecasts that the Fraser River at Hope — downstream of the landslide — is expected to rise thirty centimetres.
B.C. officials are expected to provide an update on the landslide at 2 p.m. PT in Vancouver.
Missing dog found
One camper was caught in the landslide. On Wednesday morning, according to paramedics, he was rescued and airlifted him to Williams Lake, B.C., where he was taken to hospital.
The man was separated from his dog, Seiko, in the landslide.
On Friday, Gerald Pinchbeck with the Cariboo Regional District’s emergency operations centre told CBC News that Seiko had been spotted along Highway 20.
Seiko has since been reunited with his owner in Williams Lake.
“We had our hearts out and thoughts out hoping that this dog would make it through,” Pinchbeck said. “We’re very relieved that he did.”