Birken landslide: evacuation alert issued for 38 properties

Residents of Birken, north of Pemberton, B.C., where a mudslide took place Sunday, have been put on evacuation alert as renewed heavy rains threaten the safety of their homes.

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District issued the evacuation alert for 38 properties Thursday, noting that "following the mudslide,and in light of the rainfall predicted, the risk of debris and flooding in the vicinity of Birken presents a potential danger to life, safety and property."

• Mudslide costs family house and home
• Evacuation order for 5 Birken properties

The properties put under alert are located on Birken Lane, Gimse Road, Stanley Road, and Pemberton Portage Road from 9255 to 9383.

Weather warning

Environment Canada issued a rainfall warning for Howe Sound Thursday, and a special weather alert for Whistler and Pemberton.

"Rainfall rates of 5-8 mm per hour are likely and the storm total is expected to exceed 50 mm by the time the front moves out of the area overnight," the alert states.

A mudslide caused by heavy rains closed off several roads throughout the Sea-to-Sky region on Sunday.

In Lillooet, 50 campers were airlifted out to Pemberton. Closer to Squamish, seven peoplewere airlifted on Sunday and another 28 were able to drive out on Monday when a back road was cleared for them to pass.

Nearby resident Michelle Molnar, who lives in theBirkenneighbourhood, said she couldhear the landslide a kilometre from her home.

"You could hear it rumbling at the top it would come down, snake through the little drench that itbuilt and end up taking out trees and big boulders. Super loud," said Molnar.