Los Angeles [US], December 14: Severe rainfall has triggered major flooding in the US and Canada.
In the north-western US state of Washington, dozens of rivers have overflowed, and several roads and fields are flooded, local authorities reported. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson on Thursday urged people in threatened areas to leave and follow instructions from local authorities. Up to 100,000 residents are believed to be affected by evacuation orders.
"I understand that many in our state have experienced significant floods in the past," Ferguson said in a post on X.
"However, we're looking at a historic situation, expecting 2 feet [61 centimetres] higher than record flood level." Ferguson said more than 30 major highways had been closed to traffic. The governor also declared a statewide emergency to rapidly mobilize funds and additional personnel.
Helicopters and boats have been used to bring people to safety. Dozens of rivers have overflowed their banks, inundating towns and farmland.
In Skagit County, located roughly halfway between Seattle and the Canadian border, hundreds of animals, including horses, cows and chickens, have been brought to safety from the floodwaters, local TV station Komo reported. In the town of Sumas on the Canadian border, dozens of people have been rescued from the floodwaters.
In western Canada, in the region south-east of Vancouver, flooding has also occurred. Not only have roads been closed, but residents of about 1,500 properties have been urged to seek safety or prepare for a possible evacuation, Canadian media reported. The heavy rainfall is being driven by a weather phenomenon known as an atmospheric river, a band of extremely moist air that can deliver intense rainfall for days. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune
