Evacuation orders for residents in the Cariboo are expanding as water along the Chilcotin River has begun to pick up speed following the overflow that started early Monday.
By 1 p.m., the flow had more than doubled in speed and size since shortly after the dam started to overtop the site of a landslide on the river west of Williams Lake.
Residents anywhere along the Fraser River between the confluence of Churn Creek and Little Leon Creek — 25 kilometres south of Big Bar Ferry — have been ordered to evacuate immediately.
Minister of Emergency Management Bowinn Ma says water levels could reach 21 metres at Farwell Canyon, and 12 metres where it meets the Fraser River.
Ma emphasized that while the likelihood of a worst-case scenario, as feared last week, is decreasing, the risks are still there.
“I cannot underline enough how extremely unstable and dangerous the valley is right now,” said Ma. “It is extremely unsafe to be in the landslide and surrounding areas. Now that the water has begun flowing past the natural dam, there is a risk of further landslides, both upstream and downstream of the of the dam.”
Officials predict peak flow might hit Lillooet by Monday evening.
All residents are being told to avoid the Chilcotin from Hanceville to the Fraser confluence.
On Thursday, the Cariboo Regional District said a dam created by a massive landslide on the Chilcotin River west of Williams Lake on Wednesday was expected to be breached within the next 24 to 48 hours, which they felt at the time posed a serious safety risk to those downstream.
Officials said earlier this week that they were bracing for what will happen when the debris gives way.
The slide prompted evacuation orders for 60 properties, including 12 homes.
The province says its working with local First Nations and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to mitigate potential impacts to spawning salmon and other species.
With files from Raynaldo Suarez.