BC’s Ministry of Transportation says crews have begun draining water from a landslide near Old Fort that has forced residents from their homes for weeks.
The ministry says maintenance contractors have started a process known as “dewatering” on the slide blocking the only road in and out of the community.
Officials say movement of the landslide is currently minimal, but warn there remains a risk it could be reactivated as water continues to enter the slope from above, saturating unstable material.
The ministry says once monitoring confirms the drainage measures are working, a temporary access route will be established.
However, there is still no timeline for when residents may be able to return to the community.
An evacuation order has been in place since April 20, after Old Fort, a community of about 150 people, was hit by its third landslide since 2018.
The government estimates the overall slide area is approximately 400 metres wide. The ministry has previously said the road was shifted by more than 100 metres due to the slide.
Officials say equipment and materials are being secured so work can move ahead without delay once conditions allow.