Local Emergency Declared In Zeballos After Severe Storm Hits Vancouver Island

Evacuations And Infrastructure Damage

The Village of Zeballos faced critical conditions on Friday, leading to a state of local emergency. Authorities ordered 22 properties to be evacuated because of landslide threats that endangered lives. The community’s primary road was destroyed early Friday morning, prompting the use of heavy machinery to stabilize the area. Displaced residents were directed to register at the local fire hall for assistance.

Regional Weather Warnings

Heavy rain has plagued the northern and western portions of Vancouver Island, with forecasts predicting up to 150 millimetres of precipitation. In the nearby Village of Tahsis, officials observed a steady rise in river levels, though the area remained secure during the initial onslaught. High streamflow advisories were issued for the southwest region as atmospheric river systems are expected to continue bringing rain into the following week.

Transport And Power Disruptions

The storm’s impact extended to transportation and utility services. High winds forced the cancellation of numerous ferry sailings, including routes between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen, as well as those connecting Nanaimo and Metro Vancouver. To manage the resulting traffic, additional late-night sailings were added. Simultaneously, power outages affected over 20,000 customers in the northern part of the island and nearly 3,000 in the south, with significant disruptions noted in Campbell River, Comox, and Courtenay.