Evacuation order remains in place as glacial lake bursts near Pemberton

An evacuation order continues for areas near Pemberton, British Columbia, following the bursting of Place Glacier Lake. The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District has issued the order for properties in the Gates Lake and Poole Creek areas.

Residents and the public are urged to stay away from Place Creek, Poole Creek, Gates Lake, and all adjacent water channels due to anticipated dangerous water flows, debris, erosion, and unstable streambanks. The Regional District stated that technical experts are closely monitoring the situation.

Floodwaters are expected to reach their peak in the downstream water channels of Place Glacier late on Wednesday, July 1, which is Canada Day. During this period, staff and experts will assess conditions and impacts to determine if further emergency response measures are necessary.

Emergency Support Services remain available for those affected by the evacuation order. Residents needing assistance can contact the Canadian Red Cross. The Regional District also emphasized the importance of staying away from the area for safety reasons, despite its appeal for hiking.

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It’s something we’ve been watching; we’ve asked residents to leave the area and we know there is lots of interesting hiking in the area, and we’re asking people to stay away from that and away from the water channels.