In the aftermath of heavy rainfalls over the weekend, municipal offices throughout Halifax are closed today to facilitate emergency repair work. The Halifax Regional Municipality has expressed concerns about the safety of local residents as many areas remain inaccessible due to the damage caused by the extensive rains.
Rescue operations are ongoing in a flooded field in Nova Scotia, where four people, including two children, were reported missing after their vehicles were engulfed by rushing waters. The search efforts are concentrated in the West Hants area, a rural municipality located northwest of Halifax.
The region was hit by massive floods as widespread rainstorms brought over 200 millimeters of rain to areas such as Hammonds Plains, Bedford, and Lower Sackville.
Although the floodwaters have mostly receded by Sunday, the devastation has left behind a trail of destruction, with roads and bridges severely affected.
In response to the emergency situation, a provincewide state of emergency was declared on Saturday and will remain in effect until August 5. Furthermore, Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair has approved the province’s request for continued federal assistance to support recovery efforts.