Plans to evacuate Kashechewan for spring breakup underway

About 700 people are being flown out of the James Bay community of Kashechewan as a precaution ahead of spring breakup.

Officials with the northern OntarioFirst Nation as well as the provincial government declared a state of emergency and said the evacuation of the community was aprecautionary measure.

Flooding inKashechewanis an annual problem, with the waters of the Albany River frequently running over and through the community's dike.

Most of those being evacuated are elders.

A total of 222 arrived in Kapuskasingtoday, and another223 are expected to arrive tomorrow. Each day, twoDash 8aircraft will makethreetrips apiece.

Kapuskasing is prepared to take in as many as 450 people.

The town is already to hometo some 400 people fromKashechewanwho left the community two years ago when their mouldy homes were condemned.