Four people are missing in the West Hants area of Nova Scotia as crews assess the damage from torrential rain and flooding.
The missing include two children and a youth and a man in the west Hants area of the province early Saturday after two vehicles became submerged in floodwaters, according to CBC Canada News. Officials have not released the names or ages of the four as the search for them continues.
“I cannot stop thinking about these families and these four individuals,” Halifax Mayor Mike Savage said Saturday. “I want them to know that everything that can be done is being done. I know the entire province joins me in praying for their safe return.”
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston warned that conditions in the area are still dangerous and asked community members to pause in joining the search for the missing people.
A province-wide state of emergency was declared late Saturday, with West Hants, East Hants, the Halifax Regional Municipality, Lunenburg County, and Queens County considered among the hardest hit areas.
The regional municipality in Halifax reported “significant damage to roads and infrastructure” and urged people to stay at home and not use their cars, according to Reuters.
Much of central Nova Scotia has seen severe flooding that deluged roads, forced water rescues, and left more than 25 cm (10 inches) Saturday, Houston said. The storms have also compromised bridges and damaged highways.
“We have a scary, significant situation,” said Houston, adding that at least seven bridges would have to be replaced or rebuilt.
Mayor Savage said Sunday that seven cross culverts have been “destroyed or near destroyed” and some roads are still blocked throughout the municipality. Overflowing at Miller Lake, near Fall River and off Highway 102, is of particular concern, Savage said, as waters continue to flow in from nearby tributaries, even though it’s no longer raining.
