A small town on the central coast of B.C. has been divided in two because of a mudslide for ten days, and there’s no word on when exactly the road will be cleared.
“It’s going on two weeks where we can’t come and go, or do anything,” says Sharron Cartier, one of about two dozen people cut off by the mudslide that happened on January 30. She says there are fears a second mudslide could happen, but crews still haven’t come to clear the road.
“It’s starting to wear thin, and people are starting to get a little bit owly.”
Ocean Falls is 100 kilometres west of Bella Coola and accessible only by BC Ferries. Once home to a large pulp and paper mill, the city had a population of 5,400 at its peak, but became a small community filled with derelict buildings in the decades after the mill’s closing.
PHOTOS: Historical photos of the town of Ocean Falls. Taken from the “Ocean Falls…Where’s that?” Facebook page
But around 100 people still live there in the summertime, and the town is popular in the summer for its hiking, fishing and unique heritage.
The mudslide is blocking the road connecting the two harbours, and those on the less populated side are having to rely on people with boats to transport over the goods they need.
Interior Roads could not be reached for comment Sunday.
A mudslide happened in Ocean Falls in almost the exact same place on the same month 50 years ago, killing seven and destroying several buildings. The similarities – and relief that no one was injured in this slide – are being noted by many who used to live in the town, but now connect with it through the Ocean Falls Facebook page.
“They were there when the first slide happened, and it’s bringing back a lot of memories,” said Cartier.
“It’s all a little bit unsettling.”
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