The City of Vancouver says the Burrard Street Bridge has reopened after it was closed last night due to concern about a huge barge that had grounded nearby. The barge broke free during a powerful windstorm that followed the torrential rains that lashed southern BC between Saturday and Monday night. Winds tossed the barge on the rocks of Sunset Beach and there were concerns it could refloat overnight and drift into the usually busy bridge. A statement from the city says calmer weather and low winds have cut the risk of the barge drifting away, but the situation is being monitored closely.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada says it is sending its mobile support unit to communities in BC where floods have caused severe damage. A statement from the bureau says its Community Assistance Mobile Pavilion or CAMP is staffed by trained insurance industry specialists who can help home or business owners understand the process needed to file an insurance claim. The bureau says home insurance policies in Canada never used to cover loss or damage from overland flooding but many insurers now offer overland flood coverage as an add-on to standard home insurance policies. It says it is also worki

The BC government announced it has introduced legislation it says would prevent ``disruptive behaviour'' from affecting schools and health-care facilities. Premier John Horgan says in a statement that people protesting COVID-19 rules have blocked access to health-care facilities and schools, and while everyone has a right to protest, interference with patients and children is unacceptable. The province says the legislation would establish 20-metre zones preventing protests around hospitals, schools and COVID-19 vaccination and test centres, making it offence to impede access to the facilities

A search was set to continue today for anyone who may have been trapped in debris after a weekend of torrential rain led to several mudslides along BC highways, though there were no reports of fatalities on Monday. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth told a news conference that 275 people had to be rescued by helicopter after being trapped by slides on Highway 7 between Agassiz and Hope, while another 50 vehicles had been stuck near Lillooet. Captain Jonathan Gormick with Vancouver's Urban Search and Rescue Team says crews would be searching today for signs of buried vehicles or anyone trap

A loose barge drifted around Vancouver's False Creek on Monday before grounding itself on a Stanley Park beach. The Canadian Coast Guard said in a statement the barge's owner has been contacted and plans to retrieve it as soon as possible. It says it's not aware of anyone on board or any risks of pollution. There were no hydrocarbons on board. Its statement says coast guard crews from Kitsilano's base have been on the water near the barge ensuring the scene is safe.It says the owner of the barge is responsible for securing, salvaging and arranging a tow.

Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 1,270 new cases of COVID-19, including 10 epi-linked cases, for a total of 213,020 cases in the province: Nov. 12-13: 502 new casesNov. 13-14: 387 new casesNov. 14-15: 381 new casesThere are 3,837 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 206,665 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 376 individuals are in hospital and 116 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the past 72 hours, 16 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,273.The new deaths include:Fraser H

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has shown concern about conditions in B.C. Trudeau tweeted about the situation and asked the people in the affected areas to stay safe. PM Trudeau's tweet: To the people of Merritt, and to all British Columbians affected by the flooding: please stay safe. And as Minister Blair said, we’re ready to provide whatever assistance is needed as you deal with and recover from the flooding and this extreme weather. We’re here for you.Bill Blayer's tweet: We will always be there for Canadians in need, and are closely monitoring the situation in Southern BC. We have been

A state of local emergency has been declared for the City of Abbotsford following extreme rainfall that has resulted in several localized emergencies within the City. Various small mud slides and localized flooding have occurred in many areas within the City. The honourable Mayor Henry Braun declared the state of local emergency on November 15, 2021 and it will remain in effect for seven days until November 23, 2021 at midnight unless cancelled by order of the City of Abbotsford Emergency Operations Centre. Declaring a state of local emergency allows the City of Abbotsford to provide enhanced

Vancouver Police are investigating the city’s 9th pedestrian fatality of the year, after a 59 year old man was struck and killed in East Vancouver this evening. Investigators believe the man was crossing Kingsway, near St. Catherines Street, around 7 p.m., when he was struck by a car that was heading west. He was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.The driver involved in the collision remained at the scene. Speed and alcohol are not considered factors, and VPD’s Collision investigation Unit is working to determine the cause of the collision. Vancouver police on Twitter: VPD inv