North Shore Rescue was busy Tuesday helping rescue residents trapped in Merritt just a day after the city was put under an ongoing evacuation order due to extreme flooding.

Roughly 7,000 people were forced out of their homes Monday, after flooding compromised the cityB次元官网网址檚 water and wastewater-treatment system, told to make plans to stay with family or friends within the Interior or head to evacuation centres in Kamloops and Kelowna.

But not everyone was able to get to safe ground, left to wait for rescue crews to help airlift them from their properties.

North Shore Rescue, one of B.C.B次元官网网址檚 busiest search and rescue teams, said in an update Tuesday night that team members rescued 15 people B次元官网网址� including three people who needed medical attention B次元官网网址� and 13 animals from Merritt and nearby Spences Bridge.

B次元官网网址 posted on social media gave British Columbians the chance to sit in the virtual seat of a rescuer who was helping extract a family of three plus their pet dog.

In an update to reporters, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth confirmed everyone was safely evacuated from the city, which remains cutoff to the Lower Mainland. ItB次元官网网址檚 unclear when the most srteamlined route, through the Coquihalla Highway, will reopen.

British Columbians are being urged to avoid non-essential travel.

B次元官网网址淪tay safe, and if you donB次元官网网址檛 have to travel, please stay close to home,B次元官网网址� North Shore Rescue said in a statement. LetB次元官网网址檚 give our emergency services time to do their work and catch up.B次元官网网址�

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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