Some residents may remain in B.C. landslide evacuation zone after road access cut

Some residents may still be inside an evacuation zone in northeastern British Columbia after road access was closed due to landslide risk, according to the Peace River Regional District.

In a social media update, the regional district said a co-ordinated evacuation took place Monday night in the community of Old Fort, about five kilometres south of Fort St. John, but some residents may not have left the area. Authorities are urging anyone still inside the zone to conserve supplies and stay away from the slide area.

The district declared a state of local emergency and issued an evacuation order late Monday, citing an immediate danger to life safety after ground cracking was reported near the site of a historic 2018 landslide.

Officials temporarily reopened a route to allow residents to leave, and some were able to evacuate. However, the road has since been closed again, and emergency services in the area will now be limited.

According to the regional district, local authorities are working with the province to determine next steps while geotechnical teams continue to assess slope stability in the area. It is not confirmed how many residents, if any, remain within the evacuation zone.