More soldiers join Quebec relief operation as flood waters drop

<p>MONTREAL – Another 100 soldiers have been brought in today to help the victims of a massive flood south of Montreal.</p> <p>There are now 800 troops working in the Monteregie region, where more than 20 municipalities are affected by the flooding.</p> <p>The soldiers are using inflatable boats to rescue stranded residents and sandbags to control the water. </p> <p>Flood levels on the Richelieu River dropped slightly overnight but there are still about 3,000 homes flooded and about 1,000 people have been forced to leave their homes.</p> <p>Authorities say they don’t expect major changes in flood levels before the beginning of next week.</p> <p>There is also concern that waters are rising sharply in parts of central Quebec, which had previously been hit less heavily than the area near the U.S. border.</p>