District of Sechelt declares local state of emergency due to sinkholes

Residents of 14 ocean-view homes on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast have been ordered to leave after an engineering report found that nearby sinkholes are putting themat risk.

As of 1 p.m. Friday, District ofSecheltdeclared a local state of emergency fortheSeawatch neighbourhoodperched above the west side of Sechelt Inlet north of Vancouver.

The area issurrounded byblue fencing to keep intruders and residents away from the homes.

"Future sinkholes or landslides could damage existing infrastructure such as underground utilities, roads or sidewalks, or private property including buildings and retaining walls," says the engineering report commissioned by the district. "Injury or even death are possible consequences."

SecheltMayor DarneldaSiegerssaid the district wanted to impose the order last week, but delayed after objections from residents facing a sudden exit.Instead, an evacuation advisory has been in placewith barriers erectedon the street.

Under the advisory, the district ordered residents to move children out of the area. Most homes were inhabited by retired couples.

During the residents' hasty effort to clear out their million-dollar homes,concrete barriers were movedto the side of the roadallowing pickup trucks and moving vans to get closer to the homes.

Neighbours reported an enormous showof community supportwith dozens of strangers arriving in the Seawatchneighbourhood to helppack, moveand feed the displaced residents.

Now that the evacuation order is in place, residents will have access to some emergency accommodationand meal vouchers for 72 hoursthrough Emergency Management B.C.

"We hope residents put the lives of their families first and comply with the order as quickly as possible," said Siegers in astatement. "We regret having to take this action, but we did so to prevent serious injury or loss of life."

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