The Americas

Eastern Canada battles flooding after days of rain

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Residents Lawrence Courville, left, and Andy Goulet carry belongings down a flooded street in Ste-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Quebec, Sunday, April 28, 2019. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)

A boat passes a speed limit sign intended for cars on Voisine Road in Clarence-Rockland, east of Ottawa, as flooding continues to affect the region on Sunday, April 28, 2019. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

Several days of heavy rains have swollen rivers and reservoirs in eastern Canada, driving thousands of people from their homes.

The worst situation is in the town of Ste-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, west of Montreal. It was inundated Saturday night after the Lake of Two Mountains burst through a natural dike.

More than 6,500 people there have been evacuated, raising the total of flooded homes across rain-sodden Quebec province to 5,584.

Flooding also has hit Ontario and New Brunswick.

Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said Monday that some 2,000 troops have been deployed to flood-ravaged regions that requested military help. Volunteers and desperate residents are also pitching in to try to protect homes from rising waters.