Police reported on Monday that they discovered the body of a missing man and what they believe to be the remains of a second person washed away during the weekend's severe flooding in Nova Scotia.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said they recovered the corpse of a 52-year-old man from Windsor, Nova Scotia, in a search area northwest of Halifax, while the remains of a second individual were discovered on the shore in a tidal area in the adjacent county.
Two Killed, Two Missing After Following Severe Floodings in Canada
On Saturday, four individuals, including two children, were reported missing after their two vehicles were submerged in the regional municipality of West Hants.
Beginning on Friday and continuing into the following day, a series of thunderstorms deposited up to 250 millimeters (10 inches) of rain in several regions of the province, causing widespread devastation.
According to provincial officials, six bridges were destroyed, 19 were damaged, and at least 50 routes sustained significant damage. Sgt. Rob Frizzell reported that police were collaborating with the medical examiner to identify the second set of human remains
However, investigators believed they belonged to one of the other three missing individuals. As searchers combed the area for the missing, industrial pumps gradually drained a flooded field.
Per The Independent, a police dive team recovered an unoccupied pickup truck submerged in more than two meters (6 1/2 feet) of water and stated that it was likely the vehicle in which the children were traveling.
Numerous highways, local roads, and properties have been damaged, and hundreds of people have been displaced. According to officials, 25 bridges were damaged and the floodwaters completely obliterated six.
About 500 to 600 people were displaced in Nova Scotia because they were unable to access their homes; however, many were able to return home on Monday after some evacuation orders were rescinded.
North of Halifax, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) continues its investigation for the missing from the town of West Hants. After their vehicles were submerged in floodwaters, the 52-year-old man and the three others went missing.
According to BBC, the police discovered the pickup truck where the two missing children were traveling but found no trace. Three others in the vehicle managed to escape. They also located a second vehicle in which they believed the 52-year-old male and a juvenile to be traveling.
Two additional passengers were rescued from the vehicle. Police have not disclosed the man's name or the names and ages of the three other suspects.
Authorities are collaborating with the Office of the Medical Examiner of Nova Scotia to identify the remains discovered. The mayor of West Hants appeared visibly emotional as he discussed the search efforts at a news conference on Sunday.
Nova Scotia Declares State of Emergency
The Canadian province of Nova Scotia has proclaimed a state of emergency due to severe flooding that has destroyed roads and bridges, and authorities are searching for four people, including two children, who have gone missing.
A province-wide state of emergency was declared due to heavy rainfall on Canada's east coast to restrict travel to the affected areas, free up more response personnel, and allow time to restore critical infrastructure.
The weekend's heavy rainstorms, the worst in 50 years, have left thousands without electricity. The inundation on Canada's east coast coincides with drought and heatwaves elsewhere that have resulted in the worst wildfire season in the country's history, straining its emergency response capabilities and dispersing smoke across North America and beyond.
Significant damage has been done to roads and infrastructure. Conditions are not secure for pedestrians and vehicles at this time," tweeted the regional municipality in the province's largest port, Halifax.
SCMP reported that Environment Canada forecasts torrential rain in the eastern portion of the province through Sunday. At one point, more than 71,000 individuals were without electricity. Social media posts from Halifax depicted abandoned vehicles nearly submerged in floodwaters and rescuers using watercraft to save people.
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