MONTREAL -- The Quebec town of Rigaud is under a state of emergency with about 340 homes affected by flooding due to rising water levels of the Ottawa River.
Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux said today he signed a decree allowing emergency funding to be available to local residents.
Coiteux says the flooding is the worst in the region since 1998 and he is asking people to leave their homes if asked by police.
He says Quebec is used to some seasonal flooding but this year is special because heavy rain has caused the water levels of rivers across the province to rise and threaten homes and other infrastructure.
Coiteux says provincial police and fire officials are patrolling the town, located just west of Montreal near the Ontario border.
He adds the weather is scheduled to improve over the weekend, which should help the emergency crews on site.
High water levels in Rigaud, Que. are seen here on Friday, April 21, 2017. (Twitter: Angela MacKenzie)
Two men paddle a canoe along a street in the town of Rigaud, Que., Thursday, April 20, 2017, following flooding in the area. A state of emergency has been issued for the town. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / Graham Hughes)
Water is shown on a residential street in the town of Rigaud, Que., west of Montreal, Thursday, April 20, 2017, following flooding in the area. A state of emergency has been issued for the town. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / Graham Hughes)
A flooded street in Rigaud, Que. is seen here on Friday, April 21, 2017. (Twitter: Angela MacKenzie)
Cars move along a street in the town of Rigaud, Que., west of Montreal, following flooding in the area, on Thursday, April 20, 2017. (Graham Hughes / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
One video uploaded to Instagram showed two people in a boat, travelling through the flooded Parc-nature de l’Anse-à-l’Orme, in Montreal.
