One dead in mudslides that cut off Vancouver from rest of Canada

Police said on Nov. 16 at least one person has died in torrential rains that trapped motorists in mudslides, forced thousands to evacuate their homes and cut off Vancouver from the rest of Canada.

Search and rescue teams recovered the body of a woman from a mudslide near Lillooet, 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of Vancouver, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said.

Staff Sergeant Janelle Shoihet added that investigators have received two missing person reports, but that they believe "there may have been other occupied vehicles that were lost in the slide."

"The total number of people and vehicles unaccounted for has not been confirmed," she said.

The rains had let up by late Tuesday afternoon. But mudslides, rocks and debris washed out several highways leading to Vancouver, trapping hundreds of motorists who were rescued by military helicopters by nightfall on Monday.

Local television showed video footage of the Trans Canada highway - which connects the coastal city to the rest of the country - inundated. A bridge was also washed out.

Other routes have also been closed, according to Drive BC, which said on Twitter: "Highways are closed until further notice."

As a result, motorists wanting to travel to or from Vancouver would have to travel south to the United States and back up into Canada.

Anyone taking this circuitous route, however, would have to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test upon re-entry into Canada.

Landslides also cut off rail traffic to and from Vancouver - one of Canada's busiest freight sea ports. "Both CN and CP Rail indicate that no rail traffic is currently able to transit between Kamloops and Vancouver," a port spokesperson told AFP.

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