Heavy rains on April 16th at the Lac-des-Seize-Îles area of Quebec have resulted in mass landslides and the destruction of multiple homes. The likely cause of this natural disaster was the combination of melting snow and deluged rain. The sheer power of this landslide, which dislodged massive chunks of land, caused severe damage; it destroyed three cottages, three homes and 25 boathouses.
Lac-des-Seize-Îles, located a mere 100 kilometers from Montreal, is inhabited by a population of 223 people. Luckily no one was injured during the landslides, although two men had to be evacuated during the incident. Local firemen were also present at the scene as a precaution. Several concerns have arisen concerning the insurance of the lost homes, and according to Mayor Yves Baillargeon there will be no compensation or grants for people whose homes were destroyed. The current lack of public security minister does not aid to pacify inhabitants who are banking on insurance.
The likelihood of such a natural disaster occurring is not surprising according to geology professor Alfred Jaouich at Université du Québec à Montréal, who explained that “the slope is too intense and then when it can’t hold any more moisture, the whole thing comes tumbling down. It’s unfortunate, but it’s nature.” Nevertheless flood warnings have been issued across Quebec for security purposes. The clean up effort, started on April 19th, aims to clear the lake of oil, gas and building components. While the restoration of the lake seems promising, there is still discomfort for the uninsured families who lost their homes.
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Information Sources: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Heavy+rains+cause+mudslide+near+Morin+Heights+Quebec+flood+watch+shifts/9740916/story.html and http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/in-lac-des-seize-iles-cleanup-begins-after-landslides-1.1783132