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B.C. town not given flood warning
OLIVER, British Columbia, (UPI) -- Canadian officials didn't warn the public of a flood threat even though they were notified of a dangerously eroding dam two days before it burst, observers say.
The dam near Oliver, British Columbia gave way Sunday afternoon, generating a massive mudslide that destroyed orchards, vineyards and five houses, The Globe and Mail reported.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police told the province hikers had reported surging water levels and erosion at the hilltop reservoir, the newspaper said.
One hiker said he was at the reservoir Friday and saw the first danger signs.
"The lake was right full to the top, running over," Hal Kreiger, 71, said, adding water was running over the banks eroding the earthen dam and an access road.
"It was starting to erode there pretty good," he said. "I thought that if this continues, the whole damn thing's going to go, so that's why I went straight down the hill and went to the tourist information and relayed the information."
The tourist office notified the RCMP, which passed the information to the Ministry of Forests and Range.
It's unclear what happened next, but Oliver Mayor Pat Hampson said the town was not made aware of any concerns for the dam.
"The town was totally unaware of anything leading up to this event," he said.
The ministry said the information it received "was apparently not characterized as an emergency and was therefore not acted on appropriately for the reality of the situation. That's why we are reviewing what happened."
No one was killed or injured in the mudslide, which caused millions in property damage, The Globe and Mail reported.
OLIVER, British Columbia, (UPI) -- Canadian officials didn't warn the public of a flood threat even though they were notified of a dangerously eroding dam two days before it burst, observers say.
The dam near Oliver, British Columbia gave way Sunday afternoon, generating a massive mudslide that destroyed orchards, vineyards and five houses, The Globe and Mail reported.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police told the province hikers had reported surging water levels and erosion at the hilltop reservoir, the newspaper said.
One hiker said he was at the reservoir Friday and saw the first danger signs.
"The lake was right full to the top, running over," Hal Kreiger, 71, said, adding water was running over the banks eroding the earthen dam and an access road.
"It was starting to erode there pretty good," he said. "I thought that if this continues, the whole damn thing's going to go, so that's why I went straight down the hill and went to the tourist information and relayed the information."
The tourist office notified the RCMP, which passed the information to the Ministry of Forests and Range.
It's unclear what happened next, but Oliver Mayor Pat Hampson said the town was not made aware of any concerns for the dam.
"The town was totally unaware of anything leading up to this event," he said.
The ministry said the information it received "was apparently not characterized as an emergency and was therefore not acted on appropriately for the reality of the situation. That's why we are reviewing what happened."
No one was killed or injured in the mudslide, which caused millions in property damage, The Globe and Mail reported.
