Saskatchewan town of Arborfield evacuated due to flooding

Homes in Arborfield, Sask., are being evacuated after a structure holding water back south of town broke apart.

The province said a "hold back road" has given way and water is flowing towards the west side of the town, located about 260 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.

The breach is about 30 metres wide and it usually holds back about a kilometre-and-a-half of water. The province said water flowing into town from the breach is expected to hit as early as this evening.

The town issued the evacuation order and door-to-door notification has begun.

Approximately 400 people who live in Arborfield are being told to head to the town office where officials can tell them where they can stay. Town officials said there is room for people to stay in nearby communities like ZenonPark.

State of emergency declared

The towns ofArborfield and Carrot River, Sask., and the rural municipality of Arborfieldhave declared statesof emergencyafter heavy rainfall caused flooding in both communities.

In two hours, 10 centimetres or four inches of rain fell in Carrot River.

As the declarations were made, it was still raining in both northeasterncommunities, and the situation is getting worse, according to Carrot River Mayor Bob Gagne.

Fiftybasements have flooded so far and that number is expected to riseas rain continues to fall and drainage systems struggle to keep up.

A state of emergency was declared in Estevan, Sask., on Sunday eveningafter the southeastern city received 130 millimetres of rain.There are more heavy rainfall warnings again today, ranging from the southwest to the northeast.

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Sandbagging and heavy machinery are currentlybeing used to repair breaches inbermsnearArborfield.

The town hasevacuated itsSpecial Care Lodge and sent residents to be with family or stay at other facilities in the KelseyTrail Health Region.

There were 36 seniors removed from the long-term facility on Monday as a precaution. Sandbags placedaround the lodge meant that water never entered the facility.

The water near the facility is receding, according to the province, and if rain subsides, residents could be back by the end of the week.

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Highway 23 at Arborfield is closed due to flooding.

Arborfield is approximately 260 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon. Carrot River is about 25 kilometres north of Arborfield.