By Nia Williams
(Reuters) – The Atlantic Canada province of Nova Scotia began cleaning up on Sunday after torrential rainfall caused devastating flooding, while the search continued for four people including two children who went missing during the deluge.
The storm, which started on Friday, dumped more than 25 cm (10 inches) on some parts in just 24 hours – the same amount that usually lands in three months. CBC meterologist Ryan Snoddon said it was the most rain to hit the provincial capital Halifax since Hurricane Beth in 1971.
The resulting floods washed away roads, weakened bridges and swamped buildings, in what Nova Scotia premier Tim Houston described as “unimaginable damage”
Nova Scotia declared a province-wide state of emergency late on Saturday night that will last until Aug. 5.
“Residents are advised to stay off the roads as there is significant damage to roads and infrastructure. Conditions are not safe for vehicles and pedestrians at this time,” Halifax Regional Municipality said in a flood update on Sunday morning.
Two children were missing after the car they were in was submerged. In another incident, a man and a youth were missing after their car drove into deep water. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the search was ongoing.
Nova Scotia Power’s outage map showed just over 5,000 customers were without electricity on Sunday, down from around 80,000 at the height of the storms.
(Reporting by Nia Williams in British Columbia; Editing by Andrea Ricci)
