UPDATE: Hydro crews restore power earlier than expected
ALSO, road reopened Sunday, a day ahead of schedule
Michael Haak, who took this photo, also tweeted photos of the brown water coming from his taps. Click the image for his feed.
Sunday update
What a fantastic response by emergency officials this weekend near Enderby in the North Okanagan.
Power was restored to residents in Mable Lake Saturday night, well ahead of BC Hydro’s initial prediction that electricity would be out until Monday.
@NorthOkanaganEM said at about 10 p.m. May 3 that BC Hydro had restored power to Kingfisher and Mabel Lake residents.
“Thanks for the work, BC hydro!” the group tweeted.
Also, CBC reported the road would be open by noon Sunday — rather than Monday.
Saturday post
Hundreds are trapped and without power after a landslide in the North Okanagan.
Trees and rocks buried the only road into the Mabel Lake community near Enderby Friday morning.
The North Okanagan Emergency Management group said North Okanagan regional district staff have brought in water, medical supplies and a generator.
The @NorthOkanaganEM also said Saturday afternoon that B.C. Ministry of Transportation staff worked all night on clearing the road. Still, it’s not expected to be open again until Monday.
No one appears to have been hurt, said the Canadian Press.
BC Hydro initially said power would take until Monday, May 5, to restore. However, on Saturday afternoon it announced on its website lights would be on by 11:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3.
Nearly 700 people are without electricity.
Search and rescue was flabbergasted at the size of the landslide.
“It’s unbelievable how much the forest was brought down the hill. It’s just amazing. Hundreds of hundred-foot-long trees. It’s remarkable. It’s a pretty major event,” said Vernon SAR spokesman Leigh Pearson an an interview with The Daily Courier.
