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Abbotsford: People save cows from floods
Photo: JENNIFER GAUTHIER / Reuters
Canada's government has declared a state of emergency because of the floods in the west of the country and has sent the military into the flood areas.
In response to the "extreme floods" in the province of British Columbia, the government approved the use of the air force, said the public security minister, Bill Blair, on Twitter.
The soldiers are supposed to help with evacuations and protect residents from floods and landslides.
In British Columbia, heavy rains on Sunday and Monday triggered floods and landslides.
One woman was killed and three other people were still missing on Wednesday, according to police.
Around 18,000 people fled the floods, according to Marco Mendicino, Minister for Public Security.
Hundreds of people stuck in their vehicles on the streets were taken to safety by military helicopters.
"We assume that there will be even more fatalities in the coming days," said John Horgan, British Columbia Prime Minister.
The floods are an event that only occurs every 500 years.
Several main roads and a rail link to Vancouver had to be closed.
The Canadian west coast metropolis was therefore only accessible from the south - coming from the USA.
Access to the country's largest port in Vancouver was also interrupted.
Around the town of Abbotsford, several farms were flooded so badly that people had to rescue cows by boat, according to CNN.
One picture also showed a jet ski.
"When I see calves that are underwater and thrown into boats to be rescued, it breaks my heart on the one hand," said Mayor Henry Braun: "On the other hand, I am impressed how our farmers stick together and help one another. «
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on a visit to Washington that the days of rainfall "caused historic and terrible floods."
Hundreds of soldiers are already on the way to British Columbia, thousands more could follow.
ptz / AFP / Reuters