Heavy rain hits Vancouver Island, triggering evacuation alerts

Heavy rain brought by an atmospheric river system has swollen rivers across British Columbia’s south coast and triggered a series of evacuation orders, alerts and warnings, but the head of the province’s River Forecast Centre says any flooding isn’t expected to last.

The Regional District of Nanaimo says one property has been ordered evacuated while another 58 properties are on evacuation alert due to concerns about flooding from the Englishman River near Parksville, about 140 kilometres northwest of Victoria.