Rising water prompts evacuations of 15 properties near Merritt, B.C.

The Thompson Nicola Regional District has issued evacuation orderstoresidents on 15 properties outside of Merritt, B.C. due to rising water.

• Current flooding information from EmergencyInfoBC

Fourteen ofthe properties are located in the GuichonCreek mobile home park located at311 Merritt Spences Bridge Hwy 8.

The other property included on the order is at 308Merritt Spences Bridge Hwy 8.

Residents are advised to leave immediately and shut shut off all gas andelectrical appliances, other than refrigerators and freezers.

Evacuees whorequire support services for food or accommodationare asked to go to a reception centre set up at 1721 Coldwater Ave. in Merritt.

• Okanagan residents wait and prepare for lake to rise

Meanwhile, residents in other parts of the province's Southern Interior are placing sandbags around their properties to protect against flood waters as they face evacuation alerts.