Nova Scotia mourns woman who died during severe flooding, premier says

Nova Scotia was still dealing with dangerous flood conditions Sunday after a woman died during severe weather that washed out roads across Cape Breton. The RCMP said officers found the body of a woman from Cleveland, N.S., after she went missing the previous morning. Her vehicle was parked near her residence on the far side of a flooded bridge, and police said the death was not considered suspicious.

Premier Tim Houston said the province was mourning. “My thoughts are with her loved ones and everyone who is grieving this tragic loss,” he wrote on X.

“

My thoughts are with her loved ones and everyone who is grieving this tragic loss.

States of emergency remained in effect in Inverness, Victoria and Richmond counties. Heavy rain caused widespread damage, closed multiple roads and left conditions dangerous. Environment Canada forecast up to 120 millimetres of rain in some areas between Friday and Monday, with some regions expected to receive rain at a rate of 10 millimetres per hour.

Richmond County recorded more than 200 millimetres in some areas. The River Tillard nearly reached bridges over the water, while roads were washed out near Marble Mountain in Inverness County. There, a large hole opened after a concrete section gave way into the floodwater.

“

extensive damage

Environment Canada ended its warnings for Nova Scotia on Sunday but said another 10 to 20 millimetres of rain remained possible. The heaviest rain was expected to taper off Sunday morning, although showers could continue into Monday. More than 100 millimetres had been recorded in several parts of Cape Breton, including 130 millimetres at Ingonish Beach and 105 millimetres in Sydney.

Houston said he had visited a command centre in Port Hawkesbury with Richmond MLA Trevor Boudreau to discuss the “extensive damage.” Crews were assessing the situation, he said, but the full scale of the damage would not be known until the storm passed and floodwaters receded. “Once this storm has passed, we will pull crews and equipment where needed from other areas of the province to repair roads and infrastructure as fast as we can,” Houston said.

“

Once this storm has passed, we will pull crews and equipment where needed from other areas of the province to repair roads and infrastructure as fast as we can.